It’s the reason we are here: to get an education and learn the skills we need to succeed in a career we love. However, the actual process of choosing a major in college doesn’t come easy to everyone. With all the options out there, how do you know that what you choose will be something you still love twenty years down the road? How are we, 18, 19, and 20 year olds, supposed to make a decision that will affect the rest of our lives?
It’s a lot to ask of people who are still growing up and developing, don’t you think? Well, the harsh reality is that’s just the way it is. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t capable. Choosing a career isn’t always easy, but the journey is part of the decision. According to research done at the University of La Verne, 50-70% of students change their major once, and almost all of those students change it at least three times. So if you feel clueless on what you want to do, it’s okay because you aren’t alone!
Something that strongly affected my decision of what I wanted to major in was choosing a career that I knew I would love. You should choose a career because it’s what you’re passionate about, not just because it offers a certain amount of pay or specific benefits. Of course, these factors are extremely important, and looking at statistics of salary and the projected demand for the job throughout the years are important things to research. However, it would be horrible to dread going to your job every day when you wake up.
When you’re researching different careers and options, it’s helpful to research stories or testimonials from people working in that field. Find out what they gave to their career and what their career gave back to them, and try to imagine yourself doing that career. Think about what your daily time in the office or workforce would look like, and see if you can picture yourself living that career out every day. Consider what new ideas and techniques you could bring if you were in a certain career, and also how your career would affect you as a person.
I know everyone comes from different places, but I also think it’s important to talk to your parents about career ideas or different options you’re interested in. Although sometimes it might feel like they’re trying to press their ideas on you like a weight, trust that they know you well enough to bring suggestions that would truly be good for you. They could also have different perspectives or insight to offer about things you’re considering, and could bring out different opinions that you hadn’t thought about before.
While choosing a career is a bumpy road that sometimes feels unending, the feeling of choosing a career you love is the most rewarding thing. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether you’re choosing the right thing for you, but if you trust your gut feeling I truly don’t think you can go wrong. Find peace in where you are now, and the right doors will open at the perfect time, though it may not be as soon as you had planned. And remember to enjoy the journey, because “life is not the mountaintops, it’s the walking in between” –Ben Rector.
