I was about to start a similar thread.
In the spring of 1990, I chose a programme which was focused on natural sciences for my last two years of secondary school. It made sense since I wanted to be an astronomer. Unfortunately, the physics teacher I ended up studying with was a grade A a******, a terrible pedagogue (using the term generously) and an absolutely despicable being.
After 6 months, I decided to change my life plans and chose to pursue linguistics. That meant moving to a completely new city where I didn’t know anyone because the closest university didn’t offer this programme. I arrived here at 17, completed my studies, started working, changed jobs, had several relationships of widely different durations and importance, finally got married, had two daughters, ended up divorcing, had another long-term relationship which also failed. I’ve lived here for 30 years now, almost twice as long as in my hometown.
So basically, my academic studies, all of my career path and the overwhelming majority of my love life were the indirect consequences of my putting a little “X” next to a secondary school programme more than 32 years ago.