Parties, independence, and the best four years of your life; this is the assumption that most high school graduating seniors have before they enter college. But I believe that when people are describing college, they forget to mention that along with the fun that comes with being a college student, also comes a lot of confusion.
I came into college with the assumption that I had to have my life figured out. Upon first entering college, I met a lot of wonderful friends who, unlike me, had already known exactly what they wanted to do; some are majoring in bio on a pre-med track, or nursing, or secondary education, just to name a few. But when someone asked me what I wanted to do in the future, I would answer with a simple "I don't know."
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At first, I will admit that I felt embarrassed. I felt as if I should know exactly what the future holds for me. I thought that it shouldn't be this difficult, I mean it is just picking a major and a career, right? Wrong. I realized that what they don't tell you in high school or in the college brochures is that choosing your passion can be more difficult than it seems, especially if you're anything like me who has a wide variety of interests. Some people know they want to be surgeons or engineers or teachers or performers from an extremely young age, and I commend those people for knowing exactly what they want to do and pursuing their goals; however, others simply don't know, and I also commend those people. It took me a while to realize that it is perfectly fine if you are not completely sure what the future looks like for you four years down the road.
Many people, including myself, are scared to doubt their decisions or express uncertainty towards their majors and future careers. In a society that pushes us to somehow try to pursue our passions, but make sure that passion is practical and can lead to well-paying jobs in the future, it can often result in incredible amounts of stress concerning the future.
It took me some time to admit to myself that it is OK to be confused. I realized that I was stressing myself out over a future that I essentially have no control over. People always say to take control of your future, but the reality is that no one can be certain of what is going to happen tomorrow or five years down the line. I realized that the only thing I really can do, is take things step-by-step opposed to trying to look at the big picture and stressing myself out.
So if you are at all indecisive like me, take a step back from trying to figure your future out all at once. After all, you may end up taking a completely different path than what you originally intended to take before you entered college. Keep your options open, and use your school's resources to help guide you if you are unsure, especially career counseling. College is an amazing change, but it can also be one of the most confusing times of your life, especially as a first-year student. Change often results in some sort of doubt or confusion, but it is completely OK to feel like that. Everything will work out and you will eventually find your path in life. Discovering your passion comes with patience and perseverance. After all, if you want to do well, you will.
