My first semester at USF I was a Biomedical Sciences major. I was dead set on being a successful pharmacist and living a comfortable life. I envisioned myself and my future family in a large house surrounded by old, enormous oak trees and a long brick driveway with multiple cars. My husband would be a successful business man and my kids would have their college fund set up and ready to go by the time they hit middle school. Our four dogs would be able to run free through our 3-acre fenced in yard. Everything was planned and perfect.
And then I took Chem 1.
Forget it, nope, not happening. I loathed learning the periodic table and the different compounds, I couldn't understand my professor, so I dropped it, and I never took another science class again. I switched my major to Communications and have loved my classes ever since. I know a lot of people think Communications is a 'cop-out' but, hell, I'm good at it. Anything involving writing or thinking critically has my name written all over it. A year after I declared my Communications major, I picked up an Economics minor and am enjoying my classes and what they are teaching me. I feel as though I'm taking advantage of what college really offers, and that's the ability to pick and choose what you learn about.
Many people close to me have a major and/or take classes that they can't stand. They stress out which leads to anxiety and panic. It becomes unhealthy. However, this is apparently expected in college, right? All-nighters, energy drinks, and Adderall are now the norm. Some people feel forced into declaring a certain major because of family/friends, others think it's their only option. It's upsetting because these people spend all of these hours doing work they don't care about, to end up pursuing a career they don't enjoy.
Instead of college being stressful, it should be spent enjoying ourselves. This is the prime time of our lives and it shouldn't be wasted being constantly exhausted and stressed. We need to adventure and travel, we need to pick up hobbies and socialize. We have the rest of our lives to be stressed and stick to a schedule, let's live a little and revel in this experience we are so fortunate enough to have.
