While many of us may prefer to take our time refining our skills and preparing for a new challenge, sometimes it doesn’t work out that way, and you end up instead being “thrown in the deep end”. This expression captures the sense of intimidation and trepidation which can be felt in such situations. All the same, “being thrown in the deep end” may also prove to be a good learning opportunity. After all, when placed in such situations, you either “sink or swim”, motivating you to conquer the challenge.
If you are thrown into a new situation which you are expected to manage alongside all your other commitments, you might find yourself having to balance a lot of tasks at one time or “spinning a lot of plates”. A similar expression is “to have a lot on your plate”, a situation that can arise, for example, when balancing work and study.
It can be tempting to take on many new challenges, but sometimes it is best not to get ahead of yourself or act until you are ready.
That said, if you feel prepared to take on a challenge and find yourself in the enviable position of having plenty of opportunities open to you, you will be able to “have your pick” of these. After all, being able to pick and choose which opportunities you wish to pursue is quite a privilege.