If there's anything I want you to get out of this article, it's this: You don't have to graduate college with your undergraduate degree in four years. It's just not realistic for most people anymore. If you can, that's great. If you decide what you want to do right after high school, do the four-year program, and graduate on time, that is wonderful. However, it's not the norm anymore, and there's nothing wrong with that.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do my last year of high school, or so I thought. I auditioned to become a dance major at this amazing school in Oklahoma, got in, and prepared myself for four years of dancing to become a performer. I had an amazing time my first year there. I made lifelong friendships, learned so much about life and myself, but at the end of the year, it wasn't exactly what I wanted to do anymore. I was frustrated and confused. I changed my mind. My parents were royally pissed at first, and everyone was like, "Wait, what? What do you mean you're not going to perform anymore?"

I don't know exactly what changed in me. To this day, I know that there were multiple factors that went into my decision. What keeps me going is that I made that decision for me, knowing that it was the right thing to do. I changed my major to journalism, and here I am now, writing this article and about to graduate in December.

Everyone's story is different. There is not a "path" in life you have to follow to achieve the dream or whatever was told to you your whole life. What are you most interested in? What topics or fields are you curious about? What skills do you have that you'd like to expand on or become a professional in? These are the questions you should ask yourself when choosing a major. For some people, it may be, "What makes me happiest?" or "What will make me the most money?" These are all valid questions. The important part is to ask yourself these questions and not other people. Sometimes, when a person you're close to says, "Well, I've always pictured you doing ____," it can get confusing. What do you see yourself doing?

It's OK to change your major and minor. I've changed mine twice. Sometimes, it takes a while for you to find exactly where you belong. It's also OK to take a break from school if other opportunities arise, such as an internship that will take up a lot of your time or a travel opportunity that's once in a lifetime. There are so many things in life that are more important than school, and you just have to figure out where you want to be the most and what experiences will be the most meaningful to you. For me, school has always come first because it's part of who I am. That may not be the case for you.

At the end of the day, there are always going to be things that I wish I did differently. I just have to keep moving forward and focus on what's in front of me and what's in my future. I'm very happy with the major I chose, but I also acknowledge that there are many other things I want to do and accomplish. Don't limit yourself to anything. There are always new subjects to learn and new experiences to bring meaning to your life. If you want to change your major, do it now. Do it for yourself, and do it because you can. Don't settle, ever.