When you're in college, the first thing someone asks when you meet someone new is, "What's your major," usually followed by, "What do you want to do with that?" For people majoring in subjects like education or nursing, the answer is pretty obvious. But for most college-age students (like myself), the answer is much harder to find. From the day we decide where to attend school, people expect us to have our whole life mapped out.
They expect us to be certain of our major, confident in our courses, knowing where we want to live after graduation/whether or not to attend graduate school, what job we hope to get, etc. We dread every holiday spent with long-lost relatives because that means we must answer question after question about what we plan on doing with our lives. But what happens if we literally have no idea? What if we don't have an answer to the age-old question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
The answer? Nothing.
After much debate and study on what to say when people ask me this question, my answer has become much more satisfactory. I'll say things such as, "I'm not sure, I'm keeping an open mind," or "I'll let you know when I find out." I used to fret and stress over the fact that I seemed to be the only one who had no idea what to do in my future or what to study, but after meeting new people and attending college, I have come to the realization that most people have no idea what they're doing, and that is okay.
Just because we don't have our future planned out, that doesn't mean we won't be successful in life. As an obsessive planner who must map everything out for the next five years, this was the biggest shock to me. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do, until I took my first college class in my major and realized I didn't. It was the reality check I needed. I did some soul searching, listened to my professors, and decided to pick something I enjoyed doing, instead of something I thought would make me the most money.
An estimated 20-50 percent of college freshman switch majors within their first year, and yet to me, choosing my major seemed like the biggest deal in the world. I thought that by declaring a major, I was signing and sealing my fate. I soon discovered that it was no big deal, that most people switched majors, and it was okay if I did again.
The truth is, I have no idea what my future will hold. No one does. There is a path for all of us greater than we can ever imagine, and there is absolutely know way to plan it out, despite our valiant efforts. Sometimes things don't work out and sometimes they do. There's no way to know what is right or wrong until you try.
I have accepted the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing in life, and you know what? It's okay. It's okay to be in shambles, and it's okay to feel like you've got everything figured out. Whoever you are and whatever your case is, it's okay. It's great, even. Figure out what is best for you, don't compare yourself to anyone else out there who you may think has their life together, because chances are, they don't. And there is nothing wrong with that.
Do what makes you happy, and who knows -- one day you just might figure out where you're supposed to be.
And if not, well, that's okay too.
