It happens all the time: students enter their freshman year of college full of excitement about their major, only to quickly realize that it isn’t quite what they thought it’d be. But as common as this change of heart is, many people have certain thoughts or concerns that hold them back from switching their major. If you can’t see yourself growing to love what you do enough to carry it through the rest of your life, it’s perfectly okay to change your major to something you can find that passion for. Even if…

1.Your parents think it’s a bad idea.

Ultimately, your life is yours, and you’re old enough now to make your own decisions about it. Entering a field in which you can see yourself thriving and succeeding, and doing work that makes you happy and proud, can never be a bad idea.

2.Your original major was something you always thought you wanted to study.

Chances are, many other interests of yours have also come and gone in the years leading up to college. At the start of college, you’re still only beginning to find and discover yourself, and you’re exposed to so many new things. If the path you had always envisioned turns out to be dissatisfying, don’t think of it as a personal failure—be proud of yourself for being able to recognize that feeling and being willing to take risks and broaden your horizons!

3.You think your new major might be more difficult.

If you feel passionately about what you’re studying, you’ll be more motivated to put in the hard work that’s necessary to become great at it. And if it’s something you truly want to pursue, you’ll feel excited about the valuable knowledge you’re gaining. Even if the work is harder or more time-consuming, the rewards will be greater.

4.You’re worried that you won’t make as much money in your new field.

A very common and understandable concern many people have when making decisions about their career. But since there’s no real way of knowing at this point whether you can make more money with one major than you can with another, you should prioritize your happiness and fulfillment. If your heart just isn’t in your original major, the idea of getting a high-paying job in that field won’t mean nearly as much.

1.You’ll end up graduating later than you had planned.

There’s no rush to finish school—especially if tacking on a little more time to your education earns you a degree you can really feel proud of, one that can push you forward on the path toward achieving your dreams.