You've probably heard of something called a mid-life crisis. It's how adults define a silver-haired, over the hill identity crisis. Perhaps your parents have had one, are in the middle of one, or you and your siblings joke about it coming. But jump back a few decades and you'll find what is called a mid-college crisis. If you haven't heard of it, a mid-college crisis is when a rising junior starts panicking and doubting what they are doing, why they're doing it, and what they're going to do next. These feelings often rise and fall throughout the duration of any semester. But nothing compares to the identity crisis after you make it to the halfway point of your undergraduate career. I even asked my mom if she had experienced it and she said this crisis was alive and well when she was my age.
So here's what you should do next, my fellow mid-college crisis students:
Don't let it overcome you.
Coming to terms with an identity crisis is a challenge, but it does not have to be an event that negatively defines who you are as a person. Look at the upper-level classes that you're enrolling in for your last two years. Jumping in headfirst to a sea of 400 level classes that you're not passionate about and not prepared for is not the answer. So if you take anything away from this article, I urge you to come to peace with the fact that you shouldn't overcorrect yourself. You might second guess things like how involved you are or your GPA, but these negative thoughts have the potential to prevent you from getting a jumpstart on your success.
Reassess your goals and plans.
This past semester I had a serious re-evaluation of where my passions lie, culminating in the decision to change my major for the third (and hopefully last) time. Previously, I was majoring in political science because for so long I, with the help of my peers' influence, had convinced myself that I should pursue a career in politics. And I'm writing this now because, believe it or not, no one was waiting for me in my poli-sci classes holding a sign saying, "Do you like this? Are you passionate about this?" So if you've come here looking for a sign, here it is! It is OKAY to change your major and your career path. If we're not constantly re-evaluating ourselves then how will we ever move forward and grow? Your interests might not be the same as when you started college and that's okay. That's growth. I encourage you to look into what your role models and icons are doing with their careers and think about which aspects intrigue you. Of course, be smart about it. For example, I love Anne Hathaway as much as the next person but you probably won't catch me diving into her industry any time soon.
Reach out to your friends.
After reassessing your personal situation, it's important to make a significant effort to communicate with friends, siblings, and family members who have recently graduated from college. Ask them what experiences in their last two years of college helped prepare them for the professional world. If they have had a job or internship, talk about where they started and how they got there; they can be a valuable resource for the future. Simply reaching out to my older brother, a recent graduate of FSU, has helped me more times than I'd honestly like to admit. Having the "been there, done that, now learn from my mistakes" perspective can be a major stepping stone in deciding what your next big move is.
Look at how far you've come.
In this stage of our lives, students often forget to recognize their own successes. But it is healthy, good, and smart to indulge ourselves in self-appreciation every once in a while. An important part in getting over this crisis is to look at all that you've done in the past two years. Ask yourself: How have you grown as a young adult? How have you grown within your industry? How have your decisions helped you grow in these ways? Look past your GPA and the classes you've taken in order to dive head first into evaluating your growth. Once you think about all of the things that you have done that have lead to all of your successes and achievements, you'll realize how capable you are of doing amazing things.
Reassessing, rerouting, and establishing your future. These can all be seen as intimidating and threatening things to do. Don't let the fear of the unknown inhibit you from reaching your full potential. Let your fear drive you to be better and do the best. Allow your mid-college crisis to outline your next two years for the better. During your last two years, be sure to appreciate your university and all of the people and experiences it has provided you. And remember, your time in college is limited but your opportunities are endless. Make it count.
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