In less than a week, I'll be back in the classrooms that I've known for the past three years.
While this year promises ditch days, pranks on underclassmen, tassels and caps, and all the glory that comes from being the big cheeses, I have one big obstacle to face before I can get to the cool stuff. As a rising senior at a very competitive high school, the race is on for college applications. Even during the summer, my Facebook and inbox have been buzzing with chatter about the Common App, college visits, and friends condensing the lists of colleges they plan to apply to.
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No matter how we want to avoid the dreaded "c-word", we're all thinking about it. Even when we promised not to mention it during a weekend sleepover, "college" is what many of us are stressing about.
I'll admit it.
Some of my more ambitious peers already know their intended major or their top choice school or even their career path. One even knows the classes and professors she wants at college. In fact, that particular friend has had her life figured out since freshman year. If you fall into this category, go you. Do what you love and chase your dreams, ya know?
But there's also those among us who will softly admit that they have no idea what they want to do. Being told that you have to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life at the age of 18 is terrifying. Knowing that your peers may have already done that is daunting. Having all the adults ask you about college during a family gathering is crucifying.
(In case you haven't noticed, I fall into the latter category.)
I'll admit that too.
The first option you have is picking a general major in a field of interest. You'll get to sample the field and if you decide to commit to a more specific major, enough courses will overlap.
But pinpointing your passion can be tough. For many people I've met, getting hands-on experience can help. Intern, work in a lab, or talk to older students on that path.
(Additionally, applying as an undecided major is also an option at many colleges.)
Perhaps you know what you don't want to pursue. You've tried a few different things. Maybe you've mildly enjoyed one or two, even. That's certainly a start, but what if you haven't felt the undeniable siren song of a career yet?
I ended up turning to many adults in my life about this. As one of the professors (whom I unsurprisingly met on a college tour) answered: "Do not mistake profession for passion."
That is, it's true that we all hope to do what we love...but for some of us, this is where we have to curb the idealism a little.
When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be an engineer (“Like mommy,” I had proudly exclaimed). During elementary school, I set my heart on becoming a lawyer. By middle school, I believed that I could pursue my love of art as an animator. Freshman year of high school, I was to be a computer scientist who dabbled in 3D animation. A year later, I wondered about journalism and illustration. Two months ago, I considered being a Classics major. Right now, I’m set on mechanical engineering.
(Hey, maybe I got it right the first time.)
In my case, the professor’s advice amounted to admitting to myself that pursuing a career in illustration was probably not the best idea. Especially when your parent is a single mom who deserves to retire at a reasonable age and you'd like to eat something other than ramen noodles for the rest of your life. Okay, that last part was a bit extreme, but a career as an artist is often times less financially stable than pursuing engineering or medicine.
I'll even admit that.
But, I digress. True to his word, this aforementioned professor (who holds degrees in mechanical engineering, management, and psychology) had chosen to indulge his passion for photography as a hobby.
"I love photography," he'd told me. "But you can't eat pictures."
His advice was to find a career that you can live with, something that may not fulfill you as much as your passion but will get you paid. Keep your passion as a hobby, but never give up entirely on it. Who knows? You'll be able to chase your dreams someday.
Now, for those of us who worry that we're handcuffing ourselves to a single career forever, I'll promise you that's not the case. Here's another secret: there's no one "right" way to get a certain job.
I learned that one from a senior evangelist at Microsoft. Her major? Dance.
If you're still worried about college and the choices you'll have to make in a few months, ask any adult if they knew what they were doing at your age. Ask them if they had expected their careers to be where they are now. Ask a college student whether they (or their friends) have switched majors.
The moral of the story is this: it's great if you get a chance to do what you love, but it's really not the end of the world if you've got no clue at all. You're a teenager. Experiment a little. We're all different. What works for one person (even if they're your best friend) may not work for you.
