Summer 2015 was definitely one of the most emotionally draining summers I've ever had. In between the major highlight of turning 21 (whoo!) and the challenges of taking summer classes, it was definitely a summer for the books. Surprisingly, the biggest event of the summer was realizing that I no longer wanted to have a career in health care.
From the age of 15, when I signed up for my first health science technology class, I was committed to the idea of working in the medical field. Countless hours of shadowing and many health care certifications later, I was ready to take on the pre-med track in college. Starting with my first chemistry class, I realized that college science was a lot harder than what I expected. But being the determined person I am, I carried onward.
Science class after science class, it really never seemed to get easier. But I still persisted, as the I could see the dream in the distance and these classes were minor hurdles. The last straw, however, was taking my second biology class this summer. Going into the class, I was optimistic. This was the second time I was taking this course, and I was determined to use the lessons I learned from the first time. I went to lecture; I went to lab. And slowly, I was starting to realize how miserable I was taking science classes. Tears and more tears shed, my dream of being in the medical field was slowly falling apart right in front of my eyes.
Halfway through the summer session, I decided that I didn’t want to take anyvmore science classes and that health care really wasn't for me. This revelation lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. The feeling of bliss cannot be explained. This happiness was cut short when I realized I was almost a senior and truly had no idea what I wanted to do. Changing my major was not an option (too late in the game to do that), and I really hadn't thought too far into what I was going to do with my psychology major besides going to professional school.
And that leaves me where I am now. This semester feels kind of strange, as I’m no longer taking any science classes. But I am so happy in the classes I am taking to try to figure out what I want to do. The hours I would have spent memorizing the subphylum and characteristics of Phylum Annelida, I am now spending living at the psychology advising office and career center.
Letting go of my dream was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but as they say, “when one door closes, another one opens.” Even though I'm super scared to be starting a new journey this late on into my college career, it’s kind of exciting as it's a new adventure. And hopefully, all of the information I had to study (or memorize) for my science classes will come in handy someday. Maybe I’ll decorate my kids’ rooms with amino acid structures.
