Symbolic Linking to an External Folder

I am using Windows 11 and am migrating away from google drive over to Box and would like to retain the paths I've been using for quite some time now. However, I'm unable to make a symbolic link within the Box "folder." I turned it into a virtual drive, but symbolic linking that doesn't work there either.

I've gathered that the Box volume isn't a local one so symbolic linking within may not work. If it's possible, what do I need to do?

Does changing the default folder location allow for using an existing location or must it be empty? Failing that, can I symlink the OTHER way? As in link the Box folder to a local path instead of symlinking a folder into the Box folder.

So instead of gdrive to box folder, box folder to gdrive.

Or am I stuck syncing files to the Box folder and just dealing with it?