Oh Lord, where do I even begin? Okay, so first I’ll start by saying yes, I know this all makes me seem like a lunatic, but hear me out. Hi, my name is Addie and I have decided to double major in Biochemistry and History: two completely different majors with zero correlation at all. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “who in their right mind would choose a heavily-loaded science major and pair it with another major that has a ton of reading?” Haha, me. I guess. So, let me tell you my story and what has lead to this decision.
It all started in sixth grade, the time where guidance counselors basically tell you it’s time to get your crap together and choose a career (or career cluster) that you will stick with for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. I took test after test and finally concluded that I should be in medicine. Or engineering? Or architecture? Or law? I will never get over the fact that these people thought we had to choose then and there what we were going to do for the rest of our lives. Throughout the rest of my middle school and high school experience, I was told to focus on sciences and medicine by my counselors, teachers, friends and family members, because “we need more people in those types of fields” or “I need someone like you taking care of me when I’m older”.
My career changed so much over the course of middle school and high school that my counselors and parents were kinda concerned with my career path. It even became a running joke between my parents and I. I never really knew what I wanted to do, but I figured it would always stay somewhere in the science field. So I declared Biochemistry as my major with a pre-med concentration coming into my first semester of college.
My indecisiveness did not become apparent to me until last semester, my first semester in college. I truly felt like I was having a quarter-life crisis. The realization that college is where I am supposed to “know thyself” as the College of Charleston says, and where I am supposed to set myself up for a job, hit me like a bus. I took my first chemistry class at the college and honestly struggled. But I am not one to give up, so I persevered and developed a newfound love for the subject and decided to stick with it. Simultaneously, I took my first history class at the College, which is located in a history hotspot. This class stood out from the other classes I took during my first semester; I found a new passion for history because of this class.
When I told my friends and family I was considering a double major, they were all shocked. And to add to the dismay, I dropped the bombshell that I maybe, kinda, sorta, possibly wouldn’t do pre-med. Stutters and jaw-drops ensued, and I was relieved I got it off my chest. I told them that I wanted to explore different avenues, like law, forensics, crime, or sticking with medicine, and that was something that I would figure out during my time in college. Some people were not so supportive at first. The few that supported me in my decision I cannot thank enough because they ultimately wanted to see me happy. The next day, I declared my second major, History, and I have never been happier.
So here’s the moral of the story. I chose to double-major to make myself more well-rounded as a candidate for a professional setting, as a member of society, and as an individual. Ultimately, you don’t have to decide what you are going to do with your life in the first few weeks of college, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It takes time to figure out who you want to be and what you want to do with your life. Do research if you’ve ever considered changing careers or majors; this will help out a lot in the long run. Don’t be afraid to bring up the possibility of exploring different areas, either by taking a cool class or talking with others about it to get feedback. I did it, and if you’re even considering adding a major/minor, switching majors, or switching career paths, look into it. I’m sure it will be worth your while, just as it was for me.