Last March, I had to decide what classes I wanted to take for the upcoming semester. Freshmen year me didn’t have a lot of wiggle room to take any “fun” classes because I still had to finish up some of my general education requirements, and this frustrated me a lot because I wasn’t really that excited for my Sophomore year schedule. I had my classes all planned out before I left for summer and I was enrolled in one honors course, two psychology courses, and my last semester of required French (thank god). It was by no means a bad schedule — I didn’t have classes on Tuesday or Thursday — but I just wasn’t looking forward to it.
When I applied to Boston University as a senior in high school, I knew that I wanted to major in Psychology, so I declared it as my major freshmen year. However, one of my lifelong passions and hobbies has always been writing (hence why I love to write for Her Campus). But it was never anything I academically pursued in terms of a major or minor because it was terrifying for me to put my work out into the world. I was afraid of failing and then being stuck trying so hard to succeed in a career path that I wasn’t meant for. So I stuck with Psychology knowing that I had a strong background in Biology and science. Basically, I chose the safe route.
Over the summer, I received an email from the University’s English department stating that they still had spots open in a few creative writing workshops in the fall. All I would have to do to apply would be to send in four to six creative pieces by July 12 to be considered. When I saw that a poetry workshop was in the mix, I got excited and I knew that if I didn’t at least apply then I would regret it later on. Right after I received the email, I went through some folders on my laptop that contained poems, short stories, and creative essays, and I started sorting through them. I polished them up a fair bit, read them over countless times, and then finally sent them in. The whole process was surprisingly cathartic but also exciting and nerve-wracking. I was nervous that I wouldn’t get accepted into the class, but that fear was outweighed by the regret I knew I’d feel if I didn’t at least try.
Long story short, I ended up getting in. Thankfully, the class fit in my schedule. Our class meets for three and a half hours each week with two creative assignments due every week. I’m now taking 20 credits, and at times, it can get pretty overwhelming. There are times when I’ve considered dropping my French class to make for an easier workload, but then I would have to retake the class which just seems redundant.
I am so happy that I made room for a class that I am genuinely excited to participate in and submit work for. It’s a rare experience in college to have a class that you really enjoy and look forward to, but it is one that I think everyone should experience. If I wasn’t taking this poetry class, I would still be stressing over my other classes, but I wouldn’t have a creative outlet that allows me to take a step back from all the stress and really process my emotions in a productive way.
As long as that extra class that you decide to take doesn’t cause you an extreme amount of stress, then overload and go for it! I find that a little bit of pressure can be useful to keep you motivated and engaged. College can get overwhelming at times but if you make room for classes, activities, clubs, or hobbies that bring you happiness then you will have a much more enjoyable four years.
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