An author uses a road to symbolize a character's journey. It is an unpaved road covered with rocks, holes, and mud. What type of journey does the road most likely symbolize?

The writer most likely symbolized this road as a very tough time in the character's life. With the rocks and holes being obstacles and situations the character had to get out of. An unpaved road my also mean that it was a path that was downright dangerous and wrong for them to go on.