Going into college as the naïve freshman I was, I said all the time, “I won’t change my major; I know what I want to do.” Even though I’m always far from being right, I’ve definitely never been more wrong than I was then. I bounced from major to major trying to find the right path for a career I wasn’t passionate about just to realize, and finally choose, a major that was a perfect fit from syllabus week!
1. English
I went to college as an English major on the “fast track” to law school and to further my dream of becoming a novelist. While I still (obviously) love to write, I was told quickly by my advisor that my major was a huge mistake for law school. It was then I realized he might be right since I wouldn’t be using British romanticism to win a trial. But in 15 English credits, I learned to own MLA format (great for when transferring made me repeat the class) and that reading way too into things is a talent that lets you see the written word and the world in a whole new way. I learned the value of clear and concise communication and to think before you speak because words leave a permanent ink stain.
2. History
According to the advisor (who must have been going on 150 years and had seen a bit of history himself), history was the only way to go for law school. Hint: he was wrong but not as wrong as I for still thinking law school was what I wanted. Thankfully, though, I do love history and what it teaches us about learning from the past. Learning from the events and leaders of the past is especially important right now because events from history and treatment of others throughout history should be a warning to us all and should never be repeated.
3. Criminal Justice
After talking to the pre-law staff, they convinced me to try just one more switch, and oh boy did this teach me a thing or two. My professor, a defense attorney, bragged about her ability to get off criminals she knew were guilty, and I was both shocked and hit with the realization that a career in that field—no matter the type of law—wasn’t for me. I’m a proponent of justice in every form, and I felt servicing others was a far greater way to reach others and achieve justice than working for just a paycheck.
4. Anthropology
My second-grade career project was on being an archaeologist, and wouldn’t you know it—I came full circle here at the College of Charleston. My love of other cultures and the desire to understand them and why we are the way we are as humans both culturally and socially had an overpowering draw, and I still have this as my minor. Anthropology taught me to not only deeply respect but also value other traditions, ways of life and social structures. I was taught about globalization and influences of media and culture in ways that made me see the world at face value and learn to question everything to search for the true meaning. It also taught me the value of keeping your interests and passions alive, even if they aren't the career track for you.
5. Public Health
Since eighth grade, I’ve talked about my dream of one day joining the Peace Corps. After taking my first Public Health class, I was hooked. Really, I couldn’t stop reading about it and wanting to learn more. My professor brought in returned Peace Corps Volunteers to talk, and it solidified my decision that this really was the perfect major for me. It became increasingly clear that even if the Peace Corps doesn’t work out for me, I want to work in the field of Epidemiology, a subgroup of Public Health. Public Health has revealed to me the cruelties and injustices of life across the world and softened my heart toward the plight of others, but is also teaching me the tools and increasing my awareness to both help end these global health issues and prevent them from occurring again. Because of what I’ve learned in these classes, I could never again turn a blind eye to what goes on in the world around me, even if my privilege allows me to be personally unaffected. This means I can no longer be silent when I see injustices arise. If you don’t believe me, you can just look at my Facebook; it’s a healthy mixture of social justice, scientific articles and a fair share of memes.
All in all, you’ll probably change your major if you haven’t already. Even though advisors and professors roll their eyes, it’s okay to be indecisive when you’re figuring out what you want to spend the next 50 years of your life doing. Change your major ten times if you need to, just make sure you find your niche and end up studying your passion. Trust me, it makes all nighters and twenty page papers a lot more bearable.
