Asking a 17-year-old what they want to do for the rest of their life is a pretty hefty question to ask. It can even be a difficult question for college students, too. Most 17-year-olds are getting ready for prom and are worried about what their mom is making for dinner that night.
It is completely okay to not have an answer right away.
This is all coming from someone who plans out every detail of her life out. If someone were to ask anyone who knew me, they would agree immediately. I've been a planner for basically all my life; it makes me feel better when I have things planned out. It makes me cringe to say that, in high school, I planned out what I wanted to do, when I wanted to get married, and even when I wanted to have kids (HA).
I thought I had it all figured out... until I didn't.
I'm the first one to admit my plan didn't go the way I wanted it to. I left high school so sure of what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Then, in the middle of my second semester at college, it all changed. I started working at a daycare and realized I possibly wanted to work with kids. I changed my Journalism major soon after. My career choices were all over the place after that.
To summarize how my mind worked, I remember having a "Law and Order" marathon one night and after it being like, "Maybe I should be a lawyer." I can't even tell you how many times "Grey's Anatomy" made me want to be a doctor, but I don't think I'm alone on that one.
Regardless, I kept changing my mind.
Soon before my second semester ended, I met with my advisor, and she helped me a lot. I remember her sitting me down and saying, "You're only in your second semester, you don't need it all figured out just yet." That sentence was something I really needed to hear; my advisor was right. I was only in my second semester, so what was the rush?
I had someone tell me it would all be okay, and I want to be that person to tell someone that, too. So, for anyone who is undecided or unsure of what they want to do, it's OKAY to not have it all figured out right away! Our hobbies and interests change and that's normal.
If you have a slight interest in something, take a class about it. You never know what might catch your eye. Just try not to stress if you do want to change your major. I haven't met one person yet who hasn't changed their major or haven't thought about changing it.
I'm also not saying that what you want to do now, you're going to end up changing either. Everyone is different; we never know what's going to happen. Just follow your heart and passion.
I truly believe me changing my major so many times led me to what I'm studying now. The funny thing is, I went through all these majors and ended up studying the major I started with my first year... kind of. Bottom line: college is all for figuring out who you are and what you want to do.
So, don't be too worried if you don't know what you want to do going right into it.
