Growing up, we were all asked the same question by our parents, relatives, and other peers: what do you want to be when you grow up? As children, we give answers like an astronaut, princess, or in my case I wanted to be the next secret agent. I would sketch up little room designs that would increase the skills I felt I would need to accomplish this dream. Those designs never did leave those ripped notebook pages, but as I grew older I began picking up books and reading them. Through reading, I lived many lives, even one’s similar to what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was able to become whatever I wanted, and this passion for reading blossomed into a whole new love for literature and English.
Again, when I was filling out college applications and almost ready to graduate, I was asked what I wanted to be, as I am now grown up and deciding is now crucial. I declared my major to be English. For me, it was easy to choose my major. If there was one thing I was great at in school, it was English. But what someone is great at doesn’t mean that’s what they enjoy. I’m great at science, too, but there’s just nothing in the field I’d enjoy. While I can see myself writing novels or even editing another’s, I cannot see myself as a surgeon like what you see on Grey’s Anatomy.
When choosing a major, you have to:
- Be honest with yourself. For a while, I was really considering majoring in Psychology or Biology and become a doctor. Then, the more I thought about it, I don’t want to sit and listen to someone's problems every day, nor can I stand bodily organs outside of where they are supposed to be. While I enjoy helping people and know those jobs would make me some serious bank, I had to remind myself…
- It’s NOT all about the money. Money, quite to the contrary belief, isn’t everything in our lives. Choosing a major based off of the income you would receive could potentially leave you unhappy with your work life. Sure, you could buy things to make yourself happy, but those are short term. There are finer things in life you cannot go out and buy to make your life as elated as it would be if you chose a major you love.
- Follow your heart. Before choosing your major, consider all the things you would like to see changed in the world. For example, I want to teach high school students and show them that English isn’t all that bad and is actually quite interesting. Once you figure what you’re the most passionate about, TALK TO YOUR ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR! This is very important because they will be able to direct you into the proper major(s) and minor(s).
- Test the waters. If you’re still unsure what you are passionate about, going in undeclared is not the worst thing you can do. It’s actually really beneficial because you can take a bunch of general education courses you’re already required to take and those classes will give you a sneak peek into the bigger courses they correspond with.
