Dear Dazed and Confused College Student,
I’m sorry you are stuck in some sort of rut or state of uncertainty. I’m here to tell you that it’s completely normal and I know exactly what you are going through along with more of your peers.
The college life is not always the easiest. Sure, it’s probably the best four years of your life, or so they say, but that doesn’t mean we’re breezing through without any obstacles. Many of us entered college having absolutely no idea what we wanted to major in. Many of us still have no idea what we want to do after college. Many of us didn’t make friends right away. Many of us are still trying to find our place on campus. You aren’t alone and it’s OK to not have all the answers.
It’s OK to not know what the perfect major is for you. People pick majors based on future career paths, but you may not know what your career path is. Schools make it seem like you need to choose a major right away, but that’s not necessarily true. It’s a good idea to pick a major you’re interested in, just to take a few of those classes and get a feel for it.
However, if you want to change your mind, go right ahead. Always do what is best for you even if that means changing your major two or three times. You aren’t the only one who has done this.
It’s OK to not know the exact job you want to have after college. I always say follow your dreams even if it’s a rocky road to get there. It’s better to be headed in any direction than no direction at all. Think about your interests. Could you turn a hobby into a career? Quite possibly. Also, many people experiment with many jobs after college. Some get any job just to pay the bills temporarily while others interview everywhere in search of the right job for them. There is no wrong way to do it.
Again, it’s OK to change your mind. Tons of people wanted to be firefighters as children but realized they’re afraid of heights. Just because you once had your mind set on one thing, doesn’t mean you have to stick to it. It’s safe to say you won’t land your dream job right out of college, but don’t be discouraged because it doesn’t mean you’ll never get there. And who knows, you might actually be a lucky one, so be positive and work hard.
It’s OK to not be the most instantly popular person on campus. If you met your college best friends on day one, good for you, but it’s very likely you did not. Many students come to college extremely excited to be free from their parents, but it can get lonely pretty fast without friends. The truth of the matter is not everyone is great at making friends easily. I’m sure not.
My advice is to join clubs and organizations so you can meet people with similar interests. Also, be open-minded and friendly. Talk to the person next to you in class because that person may end up being a good friend or maybe just someone to study with. Don’t give up. There are thousands of people at your school, which means a friend or two or 20 are hiding there somewhere.
Lastly, it’s normal to feel lost on a huge college campus. Even if your campus isn’t actually large in size, it may seem like it when you haven’t quite found your place yet. Again, meet as many people as you can and be as involved as possible. If you search in the right places, you will find what you’re looking for. The trick is to keep trying.
It’s normal to think, “What the hell am I doing with my life?” But you don’t have to know right now in order to enjoy your college life.
You deserve a pat on the back for everything you have accomplished thus far. You’re most likely going to graduate college a changed person, but for the better. You will learn so much about yourself over four years of college. Use what you’ve learned!
Even if you don’t have the most stellar GPA, congratulate yourself on passing that hard major class you were required to take. If you aren’t the most popular person on campus, just be grateful for your few closest friends. Maybe in your post-grad life you’ll still have no idea what you want your career to be, but take each day one by one and have faith that you will find it.
Do your best to make these four years the best and if that means not knowing the answers, that’s OK and I promise you will be fine.
Sincerely,
A College Student Who Has Been There Too
