College naturally comes with its provided levels of freedom and exploration. When given these opportunities and encouragements to explore and delve into the plethora of offerings that come with a collegiate level education, it can feel quite overwhelming. Especially speaking from the perspective of a college freshman, the notion that the possibilities of what we can learn over the next four years are actually endless is a given truth, but also often comes often as a shock.
In heat of all offerings the many Universities across the country, and world rather, offer, I too was subjected to the nerves in ensuring I was exploring my options enough. However, like many, I also wanted to ensure my academic adventures weren’t taking me on too many tangents that would stray away from my major and overall education passion, which is along the branches of management, specifically marketing and design.
Freshmen at the University I attend, Bucknell, are randomly placed in classes. Not completely randomly for say, but selected out of a ranked list we provided from the offerings given. Me, the non-technologically advanced person I am. The girl who even admitted probably would struggle to restart her computer, was placed into a class called “Creating a Computing Society,” or abbreviated as we all better know it: computer science.
When I entered the class the only thing my head could process was seniors, lab, lab, computer, thing I don’t understand, bla, bla. It was frightening. The thought of my creating a monitor, and one that actually operated, was almost comical.
Despite attempts at almost dropping the class and quitting I stuck with it and am now on week two of my computer science adventures. Secretly, a part of me loves it. No, I may not love every “techy” element of it, but I love its newness. I love the feeling that I am learning, and also enjoying a course I would have never pinned as an interest of mine.
So next time your wondering if that class is for you, or just want to quit, try it a little longer. Take a step back and look at the overall benefits. If you’re like me, normally the things in my life I struggle to do most are the ones that I need in my life the most. My minimalist computing adventures just happen to be one of these things.