It’s Okay Not to Have It All Figured Out
A conversation with Professor Mary Zampini on finding your path (and your place) at Le Moyne
There’s a moment many students don’t talk about out loud:
What if I don’t know what I want to do yet?
But this moment might be one of the most important parts of the process.
For Dr. Mary Zampini, Professor of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures, that moment didn’t mean she was lost, it meant she was just getting started. She sat down with the Le Moyne Way podcast to share her story (and what it means for our Phamily)
“I thought I had it all planned…”
When Mary was younger, she imagined a future in medicine. It made sense. It felt like a plan.
But then something shifted.
I started studying languages in high school… and I loved it. I remember telling my dad, ‘I don’t think I want to go into medicine anymore.’ And he just said, ‘If that’s what you want, go for it.’
There was just one problem.
She had no idea what that path would actually look like.
And definitely not teaching.
“I said, ‘I’ll do anything but teach.’ I was shy. I didn’t think I could do it.”
The thing you avoid might be the thing you love
Then came her first teaching experience as a graduate student. And everything changed.
“From the first day I stepped into the classroom… I fell in love with it.”
That’s the part students often miss: you don’t always choose your path right away. Sometimes you discover it by trying things you didn’t expect.
Mary puts it simply:
Just be willing to be surprised.
College isn’t about having the answer
There’s pressure—real pressure—to arrive at college with a plan.
A major.
A career.
A five-step roadmap.
But Mary challenges that completely.
You might find something in a class you never expected… something that sparks your interest and takes you somewhere really wonderful.
Not every class will change your life.
But one might.
And you won’t know which one unless you stay open.
She tells the story of a student who heard a single idea in a class, something small, almost random, and it led to a decades-long journey that turned into an award-winning book.
What happens when you stay open?
For Mary, that openness led her across the world.
Studying abroad in Spain changed everything—not just academically, but personally.
“I had to become okay with being uncomfortable… not knowing how to say the right thing.”
That discomfort? It became growth.
It helped her:
- come out of her shell
- connect with new people
- rethink what was possible
And in one unforgettable moment—sitting on a train with strangers from across Europe—she realized something bigger:
We spent hours talking… in a language that wasn’t native for any of us. That was the moment I realized why I went abroad—to connect.
So… what actually matters?
Not having everything figured out isn’t the problem.
Being closed off is.
A lot of students hesitate to try new things because they’re afraid of getting it wrong. Mary sees this all the time, especially with language learning. Students don’t want to speak unless they know they’re 100% correct.
Mary reminds her students:
“Sometimes we go in with this fixed idea of what life has to be… and it limits us.”
The students who grow the most?
They:
- try the class they didn’t plan to take
- talk to people outside their circle
- allow themselves to change
Here’s the secret she shared: if you don’t know what you want to do yet, you’re not alone, and you’re not behind. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to keep moving.
Finding a place that feels like home
When people talk about choosing a college, they usually focus on majors, rankings, or career outcomes.
But there’s something just as important—and harder to define:
Does it feel like home?
The first time Mary stepped onto Le Moyne’s campus was for a job interview.
She had grown up nearby, but had never really experienced the campus before.
Still, something stood out immediately.
I felt like I had come home… people were kind, welcoming, and genuinely interested in you. I felt comfortable. Like I’d come home.
That feeling matters more than any major.
Because college isn’t just about what you study.
It’s about where you feel supported enough to figure it out.
It’s the Little Moments That Matter
Feeling at home isn’t always about big things.
Sometimes it’s:
- Someone holding the door for you
- A simple hello while walking across campus
- A conversation that feels real
Those small interactions are what turn a campus into a community. You’ll find that on The Heights.
When People Know Your Name
At one of her first faculty events, Mary met the provost, someone in a senior leadership role.
Not only did he take the time to talk with her, but afterward, he continued to greet her by name.
That might seem small. But it made a big impact.
Because feeling at home starts with feeling seen.
More Than Just a Campus
At the end of the day, college is more than where you take classes.
It’s where you build relationships.
Where you grow into yourself.
Where you find your place.
And when you find the right place…
it doesn’t just feel like a school.
It feels like home.
Final Thought
If you’re unsure about your path right now:
You’re not behind.
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Mary’s advice?
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be open… because that’s where growth happens.
Take a Deeper Dive
Still Exploring Your Options?
You don’t have to have your future figured out before you arrive on The Heights. Explore programs, study abroad opportunities and the people who will help you discover new interests, build confidence and find your place.
