I recently attended my last-ever choir camp. Going into it, I wasn’t in the best headspace. Some of my academic results didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, and as much as I knew I had done well in other areas, it was easy to fixate on the negatives. But I reminded myself: this was a completely new opportunity. A chance to experience something different. And that shift in mindset changed everything.

The moment I truly let go and enjoyed myself was when I connected with the people around me. The focus, the conversations, the music—it was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. And it made me realize something simple but important: external factors don’t have to dictate my mindset.

In fact, my entire reason for being at the camp in the first place was because of a setback. A serious hand injury meant I couldn’t play cricket, and that injury disrupted a lot of plans. But instead of focusing on what I was missing out on, I leaned into what I could experience instead. And in doing that, I saw firsthand how a strong mindset matters far more than trying to eliminate every external struggle.

This applies to so many aspects of life—whether it’s starting something new, dealing with setbacks, or feeling stuck in a routine. We can’t always control what happens, but we can control how we approach it. Every day is a new opportunity, even if it looks the same on the surface.

At the end of the day, life isn’t about avoiding detours—it’s about making the most of them.