During college you are asked to make a lot of different decisions. You have to decide what classes to take, if and when you want to get a job, what internship you hope to get, what sports or social clubs you want to get involved in, the list goes on and on. However, one of the most important decisions you can make in college is what you are going to major in. This decision determines what classes you are going to end up taking during your college career, and eventually, what jobs you are able to get after you graduate. But it should also be a decision that makes you happy and excited, being able to study something that you are highly passionate about and interested in.
However, deciding what you want to major in is not always a happy decision. You may be excited when you first declare your major, but then comes the dreaded question, "what are you going to do with that major?" Everyone from your parents to your professors to your peers is constantly asking what you plan on doing with your major. I myself am bombarded with this question every time I go home, or see a lot of family. However, I find that while people are genuinely curious about what you plan on pursuing after college, asking what you plan on doing with your major is an unnecessary question to ask.
In asking what someone is going to do with your major, you are simply adding to the piles of stress that comes with being a college student. Many people go on to graduate and work in jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with their major. Some might even hate their major, and asking this question just creates added stress that is somewhat unnecessary. Instead, maybe try asking what jobs they are interested in pursuing after college, or what interests they have that could lead to a job. What major you choose defines your college life, but it doesn't necessarily define the rest of your life. In reality, you'll only be asked what your major was during your first interview for an entry level job right after college. After that, it's all about what you're good at, and what kind of skills you can bring to the company.
College should be one of the most fun times of your life, and worrying about what you are going to do with the major you have shouldn't add any stress. It's exciting and scary to think about what you plan on doing after college, and it's important to start thinking about that early on in your college career, but worrying about how your major is going to affect your job search, or cause your friends and family to think that your college career is useless based on your major is definitely not something you should be worried about. College is fun, your major should be fun. Enjoy everything about college, and the next time someone asks what you plan on doing with your major, just reply with how you feel. Even if that means you have absolutely no idea. Most people never figure out what they want to do with their life.
