Science. Math. English. History. Art. We’re expected to choose one of these (sometimes even more than one) and make a future for ourselves. Those expectations can be a heavy burden because there’s no way to be 100 percent sure that we’ve made the right choice. What if you end up picking a major that you work tremendously hard for, but completely regret? What if being on a pre-med track is sucking the life out of you but you feel like a disappointment because people are rooting for you? What if being an art major means you might be unemployed because that’s what you’ve been told? What if you are left behind while everyone else is moving forward with their passions? What if you never find the one thing that’s supposed to be yours?
These are all valid worries. As a freshman in college, I notice all my best friends and peers anxious about the path they want to take. I even find myself wondering if I’ll be switching majors once again because I don’t know if I’ve found that spark. No one wants to feel like they’ve wasted time, money, and energy for something that they were once positive or sure about. But I’ve learned the best thing I could do for myself was to not be afraid.
Don’t be afraid to explore. To get off track. To cultivate new interests. We get so terrified of exploring when the opportunity of spreading our wings is what college brings us. We’re scared of looking like utter fools and of the prospect of changing our mind because that means we’re no longer confident in what we once thought we knew. But that fear shouldn’t stop anyone from being able to find something they are truly passionate about.
The truth is, we don’t always get it right the first time or even the second time. We have to allow ourselves the space to make all wrong decisions because they end up leading us to the best ones. There is no one who is going to be able to validate or reassure you of your choices, which is terrifying because most of the time we had a parent, a sibling, or a friend tell us, but these choices are ones that no one can make for us. This isn’t about anyone else, their wants, dreams, or hopes, as selfish as it sounds, it’s about you. The choices you make are the ones you live with. It’s better to live choices you’ve made yourself, rather than in the name of someone else. It’s a part of learning to be independent and confident of the person you are and the capabilities you have in making the best choice for you.
And if you get scared, remember you’re not alone. As much as it is easy to be in our own little bubble, make sure to look around you because you’ll see that your dilemma can be someone else’s too. Think about all the choices you’ve made. Good or bad, at the end of the day, through the storm, you’ve managed to somehow be okay. You’ve managed to change and grow into the person you are meant to be and hope to be. Change your mind as many times as you’d like because there’s nothing wrong about change, but everything wrong with regret. And most of all, make sure every choice you make is only for you.