For me, it was a pretty big deal but for the average student it is a pretty normal part of college. Let's be honest, I bet you can think of at least five friends right now who have changed their major more than twice. If I am being completely truthful, I know of someone who changed his major nearly seven times until he graduated, let alone another friend who changed hers four times in just one week. So this should seem like a pretty simple thing to do, considering it is so common. However, for me, it was one of the hardest challenges I have recently had to go through.
You see, in college you are either one of two students:
a.) The "Major" Planner
or
b.) The "Major" Changer
From the time I was in second grade up until the end of my sophomore year in college (which was just a few weeks ago), I was a "Major" Planner. I knew I was going to be an elementary school teacher and I prepared my whole life for it. The only thing I was not certain of was whether I was going to teach second grade or third grade. I was proud to be one of the few students who knew what they wanted to do going straight into college. You know, to be with that upper tier of students that never had to question what they were going to do with their life. The students that never had to have that famed "college is about finding yourself, time to explore your options" phase until one day in the middle of my college career, I realized, that that phase, was actually exactly what I needed.
I had a hard time with starting over and trying something new, especially when I felt it was such a critical time to do anything but start fresh. I was fearful of changing my path smack-dab in the middle of my four year education in addition to actually facing reality that I was now one of those people who did not have their life figured out. Let's face it, who really does at almost twenty years old? At the end of the day, changing my major was one of the best lessons I have learned in college thus far.
Life does not always go according to plan. Unless you are one of the very select few "Major" Planners who don't end up becoming a "Major" Changer like I did but, that is beside the point. When something doesn't go your way, instead of fighting it, just go with it. The four years you spend at school, are four years of huge growth and sometimes it affects areas of your life you never thought possible. But hey, that is the beauty in it. Just be brave enough to be courageous and explore what is being thrown your way.
Whether, you have it all together, are in the process of figuring it out, where ever you are in your own journey, I can promise you it will be okay no matter what happens. Never be discouraged by those around you who seem to have it all together when your life is the complete opposite. Trust me, it is hard to not feel envious but your journey is unique to you and sometimes, making major changes in your life is a good thing. Just remember that when it comes to actual majors in college, the number of times you do change it does not define you.
