Coming into college, there’s this weird expectation that you should know exactly what you want to do with your life. You know all these people who fit that expectation and it throws you off course when you have no idea where your life is headed. It’s safe to say that I definitely fall into the latter category. Right now I’m a sophomore, so this is my third semester of college, and it turns out that I’m on my third major. Here’s what I want you to know if you’re in the same boat as me.
So, I’m not the most decisive person on the planet. Indecisiveness is a big part of being a Libra, so maybe astrology wasn’t on my side for that. I also tend to overthink everything, and this is no exception. Last fall, I was convinced I wanted to be some high class accountant in some big shot accounting firm. One accounting class later, I threw that idea out the window. This past spring, I discovered my passion for helping people learn and I wanted to inspire youngsters one math class at a time. I got into my third education class when I realized my introverted personality might not blossom well being constantly surrounded by outrageous teenagers (nothing wrong with introverted teachers, just something I’ve noticed for me personally). As I love math, I’ve kept that part of my major and I have added computer science as a second major, which make my inner feminist jump for joy, as females are few and far between in that field.
The first thing I want to broadcast is that having doubts about your major is 100% okay and normal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with struggling to make this major decision. It’s hard when it seems like everyone has it together and you don’t but trust me, you will get it together. Also, you’re allowed to have mixed feelings about something even if you always thought that was right for you.
The next thing that I think is super important about this process is that it is also 100% okay and normal to change your major as many times as you need to until you find your passion. Don’t be scared to make a big change or a few small changes because in the long run, happiness in your future endeavors is all that matters. But, I would suggest that if you’re having doubts at all, don’t go too far into the major. You can’t expect it to get better for you because in all honesty, it might not ever get more interesting to you; and it would be better to use that time finding your true passion, rather than searching for it when it’s not there.
Also, please, please, please do not let anyone else influence your choice! This is your major, not anybody else’s. If you want to double major in two things that traditionally don’t mix, just do it! If you want to do something different than all your friends are doing or something other people just don’t understand, just do it! This is all on you. This is one of the first big adult decisions you will make, and you want to make it on your own.
If you get one idea from this article, just understand that it’s okay to change your major! It is okay to have doubts and it is okay to take your time finding your passion. It’s okay to test out 10 different majors until you find the right one. In this situation, be like Goldilocks, and be picky and choosy about your major, because in reality, your entire life depends on it. It’s stressful and it’s scary and sometimes you feel like a little kid who’s just lost their mom in the grocery store. But I promise, you’ll find the major for you and you will absolutely thrive!