The past life karma can indeed influence the present life, but it does not determine it. The future is not set in stone. We have the power to create our own future.
The past is like a road or a highway. It is already paved, and we cannot change it. However, we can choose which road we travel on. We can choose to take the easy road or the difficult road whatever is available within our reach. We can choose to take the scenic route or the direct route.
The choices we make today will determine the road we travel on tomorrow. If we want to create a better future for ourselves, we need to make the right choices today.