When I started college, I thought that I had my life figured out. I thought that I would major in business, minor in English and be set to go for life. I would be able to make a career for myself, make lots of money, open a dance studio as a small business and live my life freely and securely.

As I continued my classes, I realized that my business major just wasn’t for me. I did not enjoy the accounting courses because they made me want to scratch my own eyeballs out of their sockets. And I did not enjoy the Macroeconomics course I had to take due to the fact that it bored me to tears. The only classes I really enjoyed at this point were my English courses.

At this time, as I was messing with the online dating scene, a guy I had been talking to asked me the most life-changing question: "You talk about kids a lot. Why aren’t you majoring in education?"

And I thought to myself, “Yeah, why am I not majoring in Education?”

So I thought things through, talked with my mom and talked to my academic adviser. She was sad to see me go, but she understood why I wanted to change. She said to keep in touch, and being on a small campus, I knew that I would still see her all the time.

Then, for about a year, I stuck with a major in dual-certification in Elementary and Early Childhood education and kept my minor in English. My sophomore year was when I really began my exploration of different careers.

I volunteered with a pre-school that is located on my college campus. I worked with the pre-kindergarten class, helping the teacher to keep the kids safe, loved and cared for. I also experienced three weeks’ worth of working from about nine in the morning until six at night. This would be my career. I loved every minute of working with these children and teachers.

I also became heavily involved with my campus’s Drama production in the spring semester. I worked as the dramaturg, or text analyst, as well as the props manager and the director’s assistant. I loved it. I got to incorporate all of my love for English and the abilities that I had learned in high school and first two years in college by holding these positions.

Once the play was over, I experienced my usual “end-of-show depression.” But this time, I was left feeling more empty than any other show I had done before. At first, I couldn’t figure out why, but I later realized that I was missing the friendships that I had formed. I was also missing all of the work I was doing for the show and my busy life was now just going to class and doing homework.

I realized that I wanted my career to be a lot like it was during these shows. I wouldn’t get to experience the same friendship and care in an elementary school, especially a public one. I realized that I wanted to pass this idea of friendship and family onto others. I also wanted to be able to continue dramaturgy work.

I explained this to my mom and she said, “I don’t care what you do, even if you’re standing on a corner making balloon animals. I just want you to be able to make money and be happy.”

I talked with my new academic adviser, and we agreed that I would be great as an English major. I talked to my Education adviser and added a Secondary education minor. And here I am; a little nervous, but totally ready for the future. I’m ready to take on my dreams and make them into realities.