Ever since childhood, we have been bombarded with the question, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" and as children, we have reach-for-the-moon answers. Astronaut, princess, pilot, and superhero are the top of the list. As we start getting older, the professions we spout out become more practical, like nurse, or lawyer. Now I am here to tell you why choosing your college major, and subsequent career is one of the most difficult feats anyone will ever have to accomplish.

In high school, we start figuring out that careers are not only something you will be doing for the rest of your life, but also are your sole source of income. We have the occasional pure soul tell us that it doesn't matter what we do or how much money we make as long as we are happy, but for the most part, dollar signs are being shoved down our throats. "How can I make money out of this?" was easily the most frequently asked internal question my senior year of high school. I am an art lover, and I know that I could make a profession out of it, but for practicality's sake, my brain was screaming at me to pick another path. So I went into my freshman year of college as a graphic design major, which was something that I thought would first, make me a hefty sum of money and second, allow me to pursue an artist's career. I got into the program and questioned everything I thought I had previously decided. I worked my way into a pickle because all I was focused on was making the money and being an art major.

I was set on being in the art building at my school no matter what, but what I didn't realize is that there are certain people who can make their hobbies into professions, and I am not one of them. I quickly became overwhelmed with deadlines on things I used to enjoy, and I became anxious that I was losing my passion. This was solely because I did not sit down and think about my decision before I went full force into it, like a bull in a china shop.

I have now changed my mind way too many times to count, but I have made the decision that supports not only my creative outlet, but also works to my strengths and will provide a good future for me. If I had any advice to incoming college freshmen, it would be to keep your horizons open, and to not become to set in stone on one major. It is OK to not know what you want to do. It is perfectly fine to figure yourself out as you go. Do not ruin something you love because you didn't give the time of day to any other option. College is stressful, and choosing your major will never not be hard, but if you look at your strengths and keep an open mind, the perfect career path will almost fall into your lap.