pivotal moment

• turning pointDecisive moment of change
• watershedDrainage area boundary
• crossroadsMeeting of routes
• breakthroughSudden important advance
• tipping pointThreshold triggering major change

critical · decisive · hinge · crucial · defining moment · game-changer · milestone · climax · crux · fulcrum · shift · catalyst · threshold · juncture · epiphany · revelation · before and after · fate

• identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
• dramatic momentsclimax, finale, showdown, confrontation, revelation
• opportunitygolden opportunity, window of opportunity, opportunity knocks, once in a lifetime, golden chance
• breakthrougheureka, aha moment, epiphany, revelation, realization
• crossroadscrossroads, fork in the road, fork in road, junction, juncture
• peak momentspeak, pinnacle, apex, zenith, acme