The Struggle Of Declaring A College Major | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

The Struggle Of Declaring A College Major

So many options...so little time.

5
The Struggle Of Declaring A College Major

When you go to college, you'll realize that there are a few questions that will define you as a person during the first few weeks of your experience. "What's your name?" "What's your major?" "Where are you from?"

These are the three main questions you will probably be asked by everyone you come across during the first month or two of college. Out of those three, two of those are solid questions that do not vary for the most part, but the other question is one that I had great difficulty finding the answer to. As a college student, the demand to declare a major and know what you want to do immediately is probably one of the hardest and most stressful parts of college.

As a high school senior, my mind was all over the place in regards to what I wanted to do with my life. My mind flew toward every possible career choice imaginable, from doctor, to lawyer, to veterinarian, to political broadcaster. Not knowing what I wanted to do, I thought that I had to declare a major before I went to college, so I decided to declare a double major in political science and communications.

My first semester went pretty well. I managed to get a solid GPA and I was making friends, but the only problem was that I literally hated all of my communications classes. I was so worried because I now knew that I had wasted my first semester with a major that I probably wasn't at all passionate about. As second semester rolled around the corner, I still wondered what I wanted to do, so I decided to take a variety of different classes to get my feet wet and see where my interests were. I took some honors courses, as well as a literature course, and I still felt like none of my courses were satisfying my interests in any way.

During the middle of my second semester, I felt like I was experiencing a mid-life crisis. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I questioned what I wanted to do, what my motivations were and how I wanted to impact the world around me. After a good month of thinking about it, questioning my choices and looking for support from friends, I realized that what I really wanted to do was help others in need. I always had an interest in the fields of medicine and education, and I wanted to go into a field where not only would I have little trouble finding a job after college, but also one where I would be able to fulfill this wish of helping others and making the world a better place.

Then, I had finally found the major for me: nursing. Nursing not only gives me the opportunity to help others and make the world a better place, but also allows me to pursue the medical career that I had always been interested in yet was always afraid to declare. Although I spent a year of my college experience taking classes that probably won't really aid me in earning my degree, what I did learn was that knowing what you're interested in takes some time, and that you should never rush that.

So, if you are currently in college or about to start college, and you are dealing with the same problem I dealt with, I have one piece of advice for you: do not rush yourself into something that you aren't 100 percent certain you want to do. Do not give into the pressure that your parents, friends and high school administration are probably pushing you into. Take your time, and wait until you find something that genuinely makes you happy and gives you purpose.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

6 Unrealistic Expectations Society Has For Young Adults

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

2426
boy in adult clothes

Well over four feet tall and 100 pounds in weight, many of us "young adults" of the world still consider ourselves children. Big, working, college-attending, beer-drinking children. We may live on our own, know how to cook noodles, and occasionally use a planner, but don't be fooled; the youthful tendencies that reside within us still make their way into our daily lives. From choosing to stay up until 3:00 a.m. playing video games on a school night to going out in 30 degree weather without a coat, we still make decisions that our parents and grandparents would shake their heads at in disappointment. So why are we expected to know exactly how to be a wise, professional, sensible adult? It's not that we're irresponsible (for the most part, anyway). It's that we are young, inexperienced, and still have the sought-after, enthusiastic mentality that we can do and be whatever we want, which has not yet been tarnished by the reality of the world. These are just a few of the unrealistic expectations that society has for young adults.

Keep Reading...Show less
pizza
Fandango

There are a lot of foods in this world, but there is only one dish that stands above the rest: Pizza. If you're close to me or at least know who I am, then you know that I'm totally obsessed with pizza. It's one of my favorite things to eat and I will NEVER turn down a slice, even if it doesn't have my favorite toppings. There isn't a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about pizza. I even sleep with a pizza pillow every night! There are many reasons why pizza stands above all other foods, and here are just a couple reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
sex and the city
Warner Bros. Television

1. You don't have to feel guilty about flirting with customers for tips (or just for shits and giggles).

2. You can be obnoxiously flirtatious with anyone you want. You are free to be that girl that flirts with everybody and makes 'em all smile (it's especially fun when the guy is as cute as Collin Jost). No shame.

3. Making random men nervous with your superior beauty and intense eye contact just for the hell of it is really amusing and empowering.

4. No one gives two poops if ya legs are hairy (your man shouldn't either but *Kermit the Frog meme* That's none of my business)

5. The toilet seat will remain down.

6. There's more money to spend on yourself.

7. There's always this secret butterfly in your tummy that marvels at the possibility that when you go out this weekend you're gonna meet someone super handsome/wonderful/prince-like and have this moment of dazzling dalliance.

8. Nothing is that serious...you can take it all with a grain of salt...you don't owe anybody anything.

9. You can dance with anyone and everyone...or no one (Hello frat boi w/ glasses, I see you).

10. You don't have to fluff anyone's ego but your own.

11. Free drinks and dinners from single guys (It's not taking advantage if they're offering; a girl's gotta eat).

12. You have more time to learn how to love and improve yourself rather than constantly pouring your energy into another person.

13. You don't have to sacrifice your cheesy Jen Aniston rom-coms and Gilmore Girls for his Fast and Furious/other dumb action movie featuring blonde that is only in the movie to supply a relationship to the male lead and to make him look more masculine/empowered in juxtaposition (In other words, you don't have to deal with a guy being a crabby Patty while you watch your cute movies).

14. You can daydream about what your future husband may be doing right now (and not get stressed/guilty out because you're not picturing your current boyfriend that's crazy about you as your future husband).

15. There is more time to be spent with your girlfriends.

Girls Night In
Milk + Blush

We've all been there - you've been saying since Tuesday after French that this weekend is the weekend. You're finally going to break out those new heels and actually put on eyeliner on and make this Friday night be one for the memory books! That is, of course, until Girls Night Out turned into...Girls Night In.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

What Is Your Zodiac GIF?

Characteristics of the astrological signs, explained through GIFS.

886
zodiac
Wordpress

Whether you believe astrology is a legitimate "science" or not, we have all found ourselves looking at our horoscopes from time to time. The 12 astrological signs all fall under one of four elements: air, water, earth, or fire. Air signs are rational, social, and love to communicate with others. Water signs are are emotional, intuitive, and mysterious. Fire signs tend to be passionate, creative, and adventurous. Earth signs are conservative, realistic, and loyal.

Each sign is determined by the relative positions of celestial bodies to ourselves at our moment of birth, which is said to influence our personalities. Find your zodiac GIF below, based on the traits and characteristics provided by each sign.

***Disclaimer: GIFS are meant to be lighthearted and are based on descriptions of signs from http://www.astrology-zodiac-signs.com/.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments