Taking classes is difficult, especially during these times. Ever since our education system was altered by the pandemic, students have had to adapt to new ways of learning. Online classes are stressful, especially for those high level classes you were never looking forward to. Now that we have no choice but to keep going forward with our degrees, feeling like your major isn’t for you after once loving it will be a given recurrence. However, there are so many things you can do to fall back in love with your major and your future career. Let’s get right to it!
Ask yourself: “Is it the major or the difficulty?”
Differentiating whether you hate your major or hate the difficulty of the workload is key. If degrees were supposed to be easy, obtaining one would not be as rewarding, personally and professionally. An extremely common reason for major switches are, in fact, the difficulty of the coursework. Some students are just not up for that and it is perfectly okay. However, if you genuinely enjoy your major or at least the career where that major will take you, reconsider pushing yourself through it. Find motivation wherever you can, whether it is within your peers, professors, or even through social media. Hearing other people’s stories can be incredibly encouraging and can inspire you through the difficulties of your college experience. Also, don’t be afraid to seek help for those difficulties. Find a tutor or study groups to keep you accountable and ease you throughout the process.
Accepting the love/hate relationship:
No relationship is perfect, and that includes the one of you and your major. It can be discouraging to see others enjoying their college experience when their coursework is not as difficult or time consuming. However, understand that with every major, every career, and every job comes hardships. Although sometimes those hardships can cloud your judgement, it’s important to keep reminding yourself why you chose that major.
Get excited!
If you truly do love your major and/ or the path it will take you to, getting excited should be easy. There are so many ways you can do this. You can create a list of reasons why you chose that major and make goals. Focusing on those goals are great motivators and will always keep you accountable. You can also branch out and put yourself out there. Finding jobs, internships, or any experience related to your major is crucial for so many reasons. The biggest being that what you learn in the classroom is just a base for what you will learn in the job. Having a broader understanding of the different fields your major can lead to will get you excited to think about the future and where you can be professionally in just a few years.
Are you still uncertain about your major?
Yes, it’s easy to feel discouraged about your career and future, but that doesn’t mean you should discredit how you feel either. If you do everything you can to love your major again and just can’t, that is also okay. Move on and find what it is that inspires you. There is no rush, especially when it comes to your education. Any knowledge you gain is beneficial; having multiple degrees in different fields in your attempt to find what you truly love is not necessarily a bad thing either. Take your time and listen to what you truly want and everything will work out. Don’t be afraid to take risks because in the end it will pay off.