When I graduated high school and was getting ready to embark on the adventure of college, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I had just finished up a mini-internship with the local orthopedic clinic in town and loved it, and was seemingly good at it. I love people and getting to interact with different types of people all day sounded great to me.

I then was accepted to a gap year program in small town Pine Mountain Georgia, and I had no idea that God was going to shatter my plans and make room for His own. I was very excited, but even so, I knew college was coming next and the only one on my radar was the University of North Georgia because they had an excellent undergrad and masters physical therapy program. I was accepted, but that is not what the Lord had planned for me.

At impact we had some unique opportunities to travel and experience small town living. We went on several "adventures" where there was no bathroom and where we got to role play how other countries live. During this 9 month adventure of Impact 360, we were required to do service hours. I chose to work at a school in an elementary classroom as a teacher's assistant. I didn't realize until this moment how much I loved kids, but even more so how open my heart was too special needs. The two children I worked with in this classroom were twins, both of them with a mental disability and both of them were blind. While I worked alongside them, I realized the passion God had given me for special needs and my heart began to change. Towards the middle of this gap year, we traveled to Brazil and my role throughout the month was to plan VBS each week for the kids. I realized immediately my niche for this role but also how blessed I was to all the kids who were so excited to do bubble art. It's the sun and the moon to them to see people my age making time for them.

We came home from our trip and finished out the duration of the program and at the end, it came time to decide where our next step would lead. I had felt a pull throughout the year to consider changing my plan to fit into what He had for me, so I gave in and ended up at Lee University. I needed a job, and out of the blue one showed up. I was "mommy's helper" to a sweet lady in Cleveland who had 8 children, one with a special need and 4 of them were adopted. During my time with their family, they were also in the works of adopting their 9th child who was a young boy with downs syndrome. I wore many hats during the day, but tutoring those precious children was my favorite. I then took on an internship for Winshape Homes working with their foster children and serving as the "office assistant". I then came home this summer and took a job as a "buddy" to a guy with down's syndrome.

Obviously the Lord has 100% changed my heart and mind for what I am passionate about.

I declared interdisciplinary studies as my major at Lee and have caught a lot of grief for it. It has been called "a major in nothing" by staff at the school and many of my family members, but it is exactly what God has called me to. With my degree, I get to choose four areas of specialty and take whatever class I choose in each department. It is not a major in nothing. It is exactly the opposite. It is a major in everything. I get to take classes in different areas that interest me. I get to learn more about what I am passionate about and don't have to think "oh this is just an extra class I wanted to take." My specialties are things I want to say I have knowledge about and can easily transfer into the real world.

I am very sure that when I graduate I will be working with kids in some element. I am passionate about underprivileged children, children with disabilities, children in the foster system, and children who speak other languages. My degree, with an emphasis in Psychology, Sociology, Health Care Science, and Communication is broad. Yes. I understand that, but when all is said and done, I will have a degree, I will have taken classes I loved and learned a lot about things I wanted to know and study, and I will be able to do whatever I want when I finish my undergraduate degree. I can go back to school and get masters in whatever I choose, I can apply for jobs because of the work experience I have had thus far, I can go into ministry... The sky is the limit and ultimately I will be doing something I love.

So, to the people who say I will have regrets or am majoring in nothing, here is why I chose what I did. I feel this is exactly where God has called me and nothing you say will change that. Just because you don't see it or understand does not mean it is wrong or displeasing.

I hope you, {my family members, friends, and professors at my school} will open your mind to new things and know that each person does things their own way ... and although it may seem strange to you, they probably have a good reason for why and how they do things.

Here is my why and how.

To the people who don't know what to major in or what they want to do, give this a try. You never know what doors could open because of it, and you get to pick your schedule. You take whatever classes you want in your departments and learn about things you really do care about.

Im thankful I took this leap and went where I felt I was being called. I wouldn't change one thing, and as I prepare to graduate a semester early, I am elated to see what experiences come from my major in everything.

Lauren