Ideally, life would work out where each of us could pursue the major that we want to in college and really follow our dreams. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, due to a variety of factors.
For me personally, my dream major was dance. I have been dancing for a majority of my life. It's something I really love, something that makes me feel confident and happy. I thought I wanted to pursue a degree in it, followed by a career. During my senior year of high school I told my parents that I thought I wanted to major in dance and they discouraged it. On top of that, my dad said that he wouldn't support me financially if I pursued it. Ultimately, I do understand the concern, and I know that they only want what's best for me. I have thought of some solutions that could make this experience more desirable.
Find something else you love to major in.
It may be hard, because it will seem like you’re compromising your dreams, but I can pretty much guarantee that there's something else that you like just as much that you will enjoy doing. Think about your interests, your hobbies, what your school offers, classes you enjoyed in high school, and you'll find something. Also remember that your major doesn't necessarily equal career, which will give you flexibility later on.
Find other ways to pursue your passion.
So maybe you can’t major in what you want, but you may still be able to actively participate in your passion while in college. There will be clubs and internships that you can join and apply for. There's also always the option to take classes for it even though you’re not pursuing a degree in that major. Just because you can’t major in it doesn’t mean you can’t continue to learn and grow in that field.
Consider double majoring or minoring.
It may seem strange to double major in, let’s say dance and political science, but it may be the best option to pursue your different interests, and also reason with parents and others that you essentially have a back up.
Find a way to make it happen, anyway.
For me, this would require being able to pay for school myself, which is not realistic for me. But it may be for others, if they can get a part-time job and make enough money to make it work. Or in harder cases, let’s say you college doesn’t offer your dream major. In that situation, transferring is always an option to be able to pursue your desired degree. You’re not stuck.
Ultimately, not being able to major in what you really want to is not the end of you pursuing that dream. You can make it happen. Remember, your major doesn’t have to equal your career, and these four years don’t have to determine the rest of your life.
