Many people, like me, hate the unknown. Recently, I had no choice but to face the unknown myself, and I'm here to tell you that it can actually make you happier than you will ever know.
When you've told yourself you've wanted to do the same thing your entire life, it's hard to admit to yourself that it's not actually what you want to do. We come to college thinking we know our path, when our true path finds us on its own. I always thought I wanted to be a reporter, but in the past year, I've come to realize I love something different even more -- social media.
I blamed the doubts about my major on my stress, anxiety or class workload and continued telling myself it was just a slump I was going through. Every project I was assigned I wanted to finish quickly and not learn or enjoy it. I wasn't happy.
One day, while sitting in my news class, it just hit me. I don't want to do this for the rest of my life. I found myself dreaming about working on a media team for a company, not working in a newsroom.
I didn't know what to do. The majority of my college career had been spent in the newsroom and working towards the goal of a being a reporter. I would have to completely uproot my life and change direction. I was absolutely terrified.
How do I just start over -- was it even possible? Was I too far into a major in news and was about to be told I was stuck? How do I become just as involved in this major as my last one?
It took me weeks to gain the courage to even go see my advisor. My fear was no longer if this decision was right, my fear was of the unknown that would now be my future. I had a perfect little future planned for myself my entire life and now I was left with a big question mark.
When I spoke to my advisor, she knew I was unhappy. I asked if my new goals even made sense and, shockingly to me, she assured me they did. I knew I would have to play a little bit of catch up in the upcoming semesters, but I didn't know how on-track I was for my new major: Public Relations. She asked me if this was what I really wanted, and I told her yes, without a doubt. She turned her computer towards me which read: Carly Meyers -- Public Relations Major. I burst into tears.
I definitely freaked my advisor out at first (oops), but I wasn't upset. I was thrilled. I was so overjoyed that I had figured out the root of my unhappiness and overcame it. I was so ready for next semester to come so I could be in love with my classes all over again. The unknown, which once terrified me, thrilled me.
It takes a lot to admit a that you not only need a change in your life, but a huge one. Just like me, you'll find excuses instead of what is really making you unhappy because keeping things the same is so much easier. The unknown saved me and I will no longer be afraid of it. I've learned that it's okay to give up old dreams, especially if you want to chase a new one you love even more. My new future may be unknown, but I'm figuring it out one day at a time.
