For some, the line from point A to point B is fairly straight. For others, it’s a zig-zag. I am definitely a zig-zagger. I didn’t find an easy, straightforward path into becoming a bioarchaeologist. To be honest, I don’t think any “easy” path in any career actually exists. Nor should there be one. Every mistake, rejection, challenge, and disappointment we face offers us teaching moments that we need to learn to recognize. More importantly, we need to learn how to use them to better ourselves.