Believe me, there's nothing quite like being the ONLY person in your orientation group.
The College of Arts and Sciences had four or five subsections divided by major, and of course, everyone fell into the "typical" categories - English, history, psychology, biology, chemistry, you name it. As such, groups #1-3 got filled very quickly. My group, however, wasn't even technically a group.
It was just me. The lone World Languages major.
It was intimidating to stand up and realize I was the only person in the category. I felt alone. I felt scrutinized. It was as if everyone in the room was asking the same question of me: "What on earth are you planning to do with that?"
To tell the truth, I'm not quite sure of what I want to do with my major just yet.
Even if I did have an idea of what I want to do in the wonderful world of work, that idea may very well change over the course of my years of study. I have many opportunities for a future career path. I could be a French teacher in the States. I could be an English teacher in France. I could be a translator for a legal firm. I could be an interpreter for an international business complex. Just because my major isn't a common one doesn't mean there aren't jobs available for me. Additionally, the fact that I'm unsure of which job I want doesn't mean that my future is any less open to success.
Photo by Chris Adamus on Unsplash
We shouldn't qualify a student's college experience by their paycheck at the end of their first day of work. If someone takes on an uncommon major, do not look at him/her sideways and question that student's goals and intentions. Instead, applaud their courage and drive to learn about that which intrigues them - and frankly, follow suit! Adopt that courage and drive for your next endeavor, and don't stop progressing.
To those who think I'm crazy because of my major, I'll see you when I graduate!
