Throughout my life, I’ve had many careers that I wanted to be: a dancer, a lawyer, a forensic psychologist, a chef, a teacher. Deep down, I’m still convinced I could do all at the same time, but, sadly, that’s impossible.
I came into college as an undeclared science major because I wanted to eventually major in forensic psychology. I had my heart set on it for months.
Then I actually took a forensics class and hated it.
So, I decided that wasn’t right for me. Why major in something you aren’t good at, right?
I then decided that I wanted to go with my other dream: cooking. Ever since I could remember, I’ve been helping in the kitchen. I auditioned for Chopped Jr. (and got an interview, but that was all), I would cook a full course meal at 11 and I make most of Thanksgiving dinner. My dream was to open my own café.
I changed my major to undeclared business, to then eventually change to business management.
That was my major for my first year and a half at St. Bonaventure. Mid-way into the first semester of this school year, I felt like something was off.
I wasn’t sure what it was, but something genuinely needed to be changed. I felt like my mental health was going down the drain again.
I still often wonder why I changed my major for good. It’s not that anything was wrong with being a business major, -even though we get a bad rep- but I just thought to myself, “What if you aren’t happy with opening a business? It’s a tough career and could just be a silly childhood dream.”
Of course I always hope that one day, I could actually open my own café. Until then, I need to set some very realistic goals for myself.
I’ve always been good with kids and felt like I needed to be a role model for the next generation of kids when I grow up. When I was in the 5th grade, my teacher, the lovely Mrs. Lapidus, had the whole class teach our own math lessons to everyone else. We had to create homework, quizzes, a full lesson plan, and full knowledge of the subject. At the ripe age of 10, my teacher told me to consider becoming a math teacher.
Mrs. Lapidus, if you are reading this, that’s exactly what I’m doing.
After changing my major last semester, I already felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.
My current major is adolescent education with a concentration in mathematics and I have never been happier to learn. Getting to learn how to change the world and teach others how to grow up and be strong, independent individuals feels like such a gift.
I haven’t always been the best in school, but I have always been naturally good at math. I enjoy it, I’m fast at it, and I love helping others with it when they’re struggling and seeing them have an “aha” moment.
I know that teaching isn’t always the easiest, but getting to inspire others and giving them a safe place to learn fill really be a payoff.
Whenever I have doubts about my academic abilities or if I should really be in school, I just have to remind myself that this is what I want to do and soon, I’ll get to experience the next generation’s “aha” moments in my classroom.