Communications, Nursing, Business, Humanistic Studies, Psychology, Dance…the options are endless when choosing a college major. Many freshmen enter their first year knowing exactly what major they want to declare. And then there are those who are on the fence, or maybe have their heart set on a specific career, like myself, but find themselves feeling discontent. Counselors and mentors will tell you that you have plenty of time to think about what you want to do and, “no worries, you don’t have to commit to anything until the end of sophomore year” and, “of course you can always switch!”
Well, when you factor in studying abroad, completing your degree in four years, the options of summer school classes, and fitting in all your gen-ed’s, you actually, DO NOT have all the time in the world. At schools such as Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s, your professors want you to graduate in four years and they want you to be as intellectually well rounded as possible. Therefore, schools like ours require many, basic classes that every student has to take. You’re an English major, you say? Well, sorry, but this Bio class is required to graduate. It’s all a part of being the well-rounded students we are!
Sometimes, you think you want to major in an area that isn’t your calling. As I realized I wasn’t getting the excited feeling I should have been getting to go to my nursing class, I worried about what I was going to do. I knew one thing; that I didn’t want to rush into a major or “just pick something.” I wanted to think it through. Then, one day while at home over Christmas break, it hit me. I had just come from my sister’s school-wide Christmas program, having watched a couple hundred kids smiling and singing on stage, watching their teachers and just having fun with each other and so I realized, I wanted to work with kids.
Then I thought about how cool it would be to have my own, organized, and awesomely decorated room in which to talk to kids. As I was explaining my thoughts to my sister, she asked me the obvious question, “You mean like your very own classroom?” In that moment, I knew that was exactly what I wanted. The next day, I was on the phone to academic affairs, changing every one of my classes. (Except those gen-ed’s, of course.)
When deciding on a major, you have to take into consideration what your God-given talents are and how you can put them to good use – what you like to do, and what will make you the happiest, best person you can be!
Hannah Drinkall is a Saint Mary’s College contributor to Her Campus Notre Dame.