"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
For some kids, this was an easy question to answer.
For me, it was always a daunting one. As you get older, people start to ask you this question more seriously, and by the time you get to college, reality sets in. It is ridiculous to think that you have to figure out the rest of your life at age 18.
Granted, some students go into college with the next 10 years of their life planned out. For many of us, though, we come into college without a clue of what our major should even be.
I just completed my first quarter of freshman year, and every time I was asked "What is your major?" I would find myself frozen.
When I tell people I'm still trying to figure it out, the response is always positive. Everyone usually says, "Oh, don't worry. You have plenty of time." This is true, but for all of those students out there who do not know the answer to this question, you know how difficult it is when you are asked.
It is not imperative for an 18 year old to know what she wants to do for the rest of her life. If you do, that is great. If you do not, you are not alone.
Get rid of the noise
If you're like me, then you know what it is like to feel the immense pressure that comes with deciding on a major. This pressure may come from family, friends, professors, or simply yourself. The most important thing to remember is to get rid of the noise in your life.
On a daily basis, I get suggestions from my family and friends regarding possible majors and career paths. Although I always welcome the input of those who care about me, it makes it difficult for me to listen to what I want.
If you feel pressured to follow a certain path because the people around you are telling you to do so, I encourage you to take a step back and decide for yourself if it is truly what you want.
Plans are great — but they are not definite
One of the most intimidating things for a student with an undeclared major is hearing the five-, 10-, 20-year plans that your friends and siblings have planned out for themselves.
Plans like these are great — but they are not definite. Plans made at 18 are not expected to go exactly the way they are predicted. So, if you do not have a plan like this, do not be discouraged by those who do (my brother has been on the pre-med track since birth so this one took me a while to overcome).
Choose a passion, not a career
I always thought you had to pick a career and find a major that will help you get there. This is not necessarily a wrong approach, but it is impossible for most students to choose a career as a teenager. Rather, I learned to find a subject I am passionate about and trust that I will turn this into a path right for me.
