It’s a question that has haunted me on more than one occasion: does success run in family genes? Around me, relatives and distant family members display an array of academic and professional achievements that seem almost scripted in their DNA. Meanwhile, my immediate family and I often feel like we’ve been handed the shorter stick.

I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy, a feat in itself, yet stumbled at the licensure exam. The drive to retake the test faded with time, and here I am, years later, forging a path in freelancing—a journey I cherish, especially with a generous boss at my side. However, there are moments, usually quiet and introspective, where the achievements of others cast a long shadow over my contentment.

My brothers’ academic journeys were even more turbulent. The eldest, poised to mirror our father’s engineering career, found his plans derailed by early fatherhood, prompted by familial pressures to marry young. The reasons for my middle brother’s educational halt remain a blur, but it certainly wasn’t for lack of financial support.

Now, it feels like history is on the verge of repeating itself in my own family. I’ve been battling to alter our course, but recent discoveries—too raw and recent to divulge—suggest that perhaps nothing has changed.

So, I find myself asking: Is success just typically in the genes? Am I missing that elusive “success gene,” and does this mean I can’t pass on a legacy of success to my child and future grandchildren?

These questions haunt me, echoing in the quieter corners of my mind, challenging the notion of predestined paths and genetic determinism.

Yet, despite these thoughts, I must reject the idea that everything is predetermined by our genes. Sure, genetics influence our abilities—how we think, how strong we are, and how we feel. But who we become is about more than just our DNA. It’s also about the choices we make, the places we grow up, and, very importantly, our ability to keep going when things get tough.

Success isn’t just something you’re born with, like winning a lottery. If it were, we wouldn’t have much control over our own lives. Yet, there are countless stories of people who have overcome what was expected of them by birth or society to shape their own futures. These stories give me hope that while I carry parts of my family’s history, the life I’m creating is entirely my own.

So, for anyone who sometimes doubts their place in a family legacy of success, remember: our lives aren’t just about what we inherit; they’re about what we build. And that’s a power that no gene can give.