My Inquiry question this semester is, “Why do we view life as a linear journey; can defying society’s norms lead to true liberation?” I look forward to discovering more about this complex topic over the next couple of months!
Research Step 1: How has our society contributed to the belief that we should follow a linear, predictable life path?
You most likely find yourself following a routine. Set an alarm, get ready, attend school, finish homework, eat dinner, throw in an extracurricular and repeat. Don’t get me wrong, routines are great. I have just wondered for the longest time how our society revolves around the standard 9-5 lifestyle, settling for predictability to provide closure without batting an eye. Even if someone starts to question this standardized system, a wave of judgement will follow. For my first round of research, I will dive deep into the topic of how our societal norms shape our beliefs and values in regard to the concept of life and viewing the journey as linear.
Research Step 2: How does our education system and institutions shape the way we perceive life in regard to reaching an “ultimate end goal?”
This second sub-question will help me discover how our education system and institutions have a strong influence over our beliefs as a society and the overall unspoken collective ideologies we all share. Personally, I feel like there is a solid emphasis on working your way up to an “end goal” where oftentimes we forget to enjoy ourselves while still being on the journey. I will find out whether the institutions and education system we revolve around is actually the driving force in terms of setting unrealistic standards we set to achieve. I’m excited to dissect this subject matter during the course of the next few months to get a better perception of the role institutions has on society.
Research Step 3: Why does defying societal norms result in negative judgement; will we ever be able to pave our own path without irritated uproar?
This will be my final and concluding sub-question. It’s very rare to see someone who follows their own instincts without caring what others think of them and wondering how they will be perceived. It almost seems like others get so irritated from other peoples personal achievements and wins to the point where they develop feelings of envy and resentment. My goal with this final sub-question is to discover why defying societal norms results in such negative judgement and how we can collectively combat such judgement.
How will this Inquiry question have implications on other individuals?
Everybody has their own opinion about certain things, and during this project I would encourage others to speak up about their outlook on this subject matter. Researching about such a broad topic will obviously result in attentiveness from viewers. Not everybody has to agree with my work and by all means, I would love to receive feedback and various perspectives in regard to my project. Everybody perceives information differently, so the way I display my project may be in a way that another person disagrees with. During this project, I will try to look at certain aspects in different perspectives, and encourage other opinions as it will provide more insight into my project.
Thank you very much for reading my blog post! Stay tuned for upcoming posts to learn more about this complex topic!
-Vanessa Vukovic
Resources:
(1) Chris. (2024, July 10). Unlearning Societal Norms: A Journey to Authentic living. Fountain of Awe. https://fountainofawe.com/2024/07/10/unlearning-societal-norms-a-journey-to-authentic-living/
(2) Embracing the Organic Nature of Life: Why It is Not Linear. (2024, March 3). Medium. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://medium.com/illumination/embracing-the-organic-nature-of-life-why-it-is-not-linear-3ca66474b464
(3) Allison, S. T., PhD. (2026, April 27). How a timeless narrative pattern can help us find meaning in a fragmented world. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-we-need-heroes/202604/why-we-still-crave-the-heros-journey
(4) Rabois, I. (2016, April 9). The metaphor of life as a journey. Ira Rabois. https://irarabois.com/the-metaphor-of-life-as-a-journey/
(5) Quiring, C. (2025, September 2). The Shape of the Journey: Beyond Linear Growth — Catherine Quiring. Catherine Quiring. https://www.catherinequiring.com/blog/the-shape-of-the-journey-beyond-linear-growth