When I think about being a business major, I know that I chose it because it’s what I’m good at. Business operation is in my blood. My grandparents owned their own company, my dad owns his own companies and eventually I will own my own as well, so choosing to be a business major seemed like the obvious and smart choice. While I am successful with my courses in business, I find greater joy in learning about completely different topics. When this first occurred to me I was startled, I thought I had messed up and chosen the wrong major. When I selected my major I really didn’t think there was any other option for me. I felt like it was already set in stone to major in business with a concentration in marketing so when I started to get the feeling that I messed up, fear immediately set in.

My father reminds me every year that I have to finish my degree in four years or else I will end up being another broke, indebted college student. I felt stuck and hopeless, I thought “Well that’s it, my life is over and I will end up hating my career for the rest of my life.” When I was younger I always wanted to be a model and become best friends with Tyra Banks, little did I know at that time there was no “supermodel” major. After that, I wanted to be a nurse because I love helping people, but that wouldn’t be possible because I’m scared of needles.

So to no avail, I found myself wanting to be a lawyer, my only logical way to figure out how to help society in a positive way. However I did not major in “super modeling,” biology, political science or criminal justice. Instead I chose business administration. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my business courses, professors and the projects. But sometimes I find myself wanting more, something different, something that pushes me to work harder, think differently and really challenge me.

After various internships, one working at Kaiser Permanente’s Department of Medical Informatics (which has everything to do with health care, technology and education and nothing to do with my business courses) and my second internship at the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (which related to criminal justice curriculum and had nothing to do with my marketing courses) I realized that my major had no impact in my success as an employee or member of society.

Some college students put so much time and consideration in choosing a major, and some of the time this is necessary in pursuing a career and possibly continuing their education after their bachelor's work like being an engineer or doctor. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that choosing my major doesn’t indicate success. I’ve been asked the same, mind-numbing, annoying, idiotic question a million times at both my internships: “What is a business major doing in the health care or law industry?”

Most of the time, I just want to hit the person upside the head for asking such a dumb question because my major doesn’t define me. It doesn’t occur to everyone that just because you specialize in one topic does not mean you are incapable of do something completely different for an internship or future career. That’s what our younger years are for, trying many different jobs, job shadowing different professionals and interning at unusual businesses. I’m a marketing major and since I’ve been in college I’ve worked for a construction company, Home Depot, and as an intern for both Kaiser Permanente and the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Every position I’ve held has been completely different, with various challenges and issues.

However, it’s not my major that helped me overcome these obstacles, it’s my skills as a student knowing how to talk with people, how listen to what they need and understand how I can help, and the most obvious -- giving everything my full effort. I’ve come to realize that the connections you make with other professionals, the personal skills you obtain and the analytical and critical skills you acquire while being a student indicate your future success. My major is just a vehicle for getting me to that point of professionalism, but is not the deciding factor and, in fact, I believe plays a very small role in deciding one’s career and path for their entire professional life.