The number one rule of success in college is this:
Never compare success in your major to another major's success, or you will never feel like a competent student.
Confused?
Hopefully not. Because this one rule will help carry you from the first day of your freshman year to the day you walk across that stage to get your diploma, and even beyond that. This rule helped me succeed in college, and hopefully, it will help you – so allow me to elaborate.
As a senior history major, I have accomplished a lot. I mean, A LOT. For a history major, I have been quite successful, and so many of my fellow history majors have been just as successful. My major has prepared me to be a great writer, speaker, communicator and analytic researcher. All great and necessary skills for the modern day workforce. BUT, if I go to compare myself to another major, then I can be seen as a complete failure. Example:
My roommates this year have the following majors: civil engineering, computer science, and finance. All three of these majors have real-world career counterparts: engineering contractor, programmer, a financial consultant. For me, unless I want to pursue a Masters and then Ph.D. in history to become a professor the only career that directly correlates to my major is a historian.
Now, I love history, but I don't think that being a historian is the best job for me... In comparison to my roommates, I will be making the least amount of money, and I have no real-world experience in a career. So at this point, you have to think,
"So Adam, you talked about this comparison thing, but you just said you have no real world experience!"
Yes, yes I did. BUT, here's the thing, I also said earlier, that I have writing, speaking, communicating and research skills. All four of those are again, key in today's workforce and surviving in these crazy times we live in.
So, to all of those incoming freshman and graduating seniors, never compare your success to another major's success. While this tip might seem silly, just think about it, apply it to your life, and you will find success in even the littlest of things. So here's to you, and may you find success in everything you do.
