At 18 years old and fresh out of high school, there’s some convoluted idea that you’re supposed to know exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life. Like many people, I had some semblance of an idea, but nothing solidly put in place, and it drove my mom absolutely nuts.

So, I went into college with a half-baked plan that I thought I was all in on, but I was quickly having second thoughts. I loved my major classes, but I wasn’t taking in the material as easily as my friends in my classes and I was getting frustrated. It wasn’t until my second semester of my freshman year that I found a potential major I was thinking I would like more.

By the end of my first year, I had switched from my intended major of American Sign Language Interpretation to Public Relations. I know, a little different.

I quickly found out that it was just the same sh*t, different major, and that I wasn’t happy there either. I wasn’t going to waste my college career -- or the money I’m paying for said college career -- being unhappy in the path I was choosing. I knew I had to switch, but the thought of switching again was just... disheartening. Why was nothing clicking? Am I even meant to be at this school?

I contemplated that for a while, even into the summer between my sophomore and junior years. What if I switched school’s entirely? I could go to a local university at home, and save so much money while I try to figure my life out, right?

After I thought about it, giving up that easily wasn’t an option. I love being in Chicago, I love the friends that I’ve made, and I was already halfway through all of my gen-eds. It wouldn’t make sense to switch schools.

First day of junior year, right after my first class, I went straight to my advisor who met me with a knowing look and said, “What are we thinking this time?”

It was easy to tell him what I wanted to switch to, and he was so understanding and helped guide me into classes that would benefit me. It was no-judgement, quick and painless, and I walked out excited and refreshed to start the new school year.

So to those of you stuck in a major you aren’t enjoying, college is only four years, and that’s too short of a time to think of yourself as “stuck.” You should always enjoy what you’re going to school for, should be excited to go to your major classes instead of dreading them, and getting to a point where you’re happy with your major is the most freeing feeling.

Some people won’t understand what made you inclined to switch, but that’s okay. You know what you had to do to make yourself happy, to make yourself successful. Finding a major that fits you is such a nice feeling, especially when you’re surrounded by people who are just as interested in the subject matter as you. There’s no better feeling.

Take it from a former American Sign Language, Public Relations, and Journalism student who is now a current Multimedia Journalism major with a concentration in Sports. Sure, I’m a little upset that I didn’t take the chance of going to that major first, but I don’t think I was ready for that yet.

If you’ve switched once, three times, or five times, that doesn’t make people who have stuck with the same program their whole career any better than you. College is a learning curve, and you’re obviously going to change in your time here, so make the most of it.