Since we were children, we have been asked what we want to be when we grow up. Now that we are sort of grown up (if college students can be considered grownups), we are asked what our major is. Our majors point us in the direction of our careers. Our careers lead us to a salary. Our salary sets a standard for a certain lifestyle. So, it is a given that some might pick a major in which a lofty lifestyle would be attainable. These majors are going to be more difficult than the majors that lead to a more comfortable, basic lifestyle… that majority of Americans live.

Currently, I am an International Studies major with a concentration in politics and diplomacy, but not for long. I wanted to go into Politics, hopefully, the public relations side… i.e. campaigning, broadcasting - something of that sort. About the time I started college, the 2016 election began heating up. The mess that is has become has made me want to stray from this field… like any sane person. So, what am I changing my major to? Probably communications. *Cue the laughter*

Oh, you think I am just taking the easy way out, huh? Well, maybe an easier route than some, but does that mean my lifestyle is going to be any lesser than yours? I don’t know, possibly. There is also a chance I will be successful, and more than well off in such a broad field with a wide spectrum of possibilities of jobs. So, laugh on.

Ask me about my schedule. My schedule in the past has consisted of things like language courses, writing intensive courses, history, public speaking, even sciences like oceanography. That would be pretty typical of any student in the Liberal Arts College. This would be a day at the spa for some majors, say engineering maybe, or perhaps biomedical sciences? But here is the catch. I do not feel bad for them. Your major is YOUR decision.

I have chosen to be a communications major. I am as much of an extrovert as they come. I could talk to a wall, sell any product to any stranger, give a speech in front of any crowd. The career choices available to people in my major are most appealing to me. They are fitting to my personality. I dislike math and science. I hate the medical field. Physics is my worst enemy. Accounting sounds like torture. Basically, I am more than happy where I am at.

If you are not happy where you are at, now is the time to do something about it. The things you are learning are preparing you for the career you will lead. If the prerequisites make you that unhappy, imagine working an 8-5 job putting into practice what are learning. So here’s my suggestion, either change your major, or STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. No one is forcing you into a certain job, no one is pressuring you to not do what you love, no one wants to hear you complain, and no one is asking you to major in, say, Chemical Engineering for their benefit. If you made that choice, it is obviously for your OWN benefit.

We all know, school sucks. No one likes going to class five days a week and taking notes and studying hours on end for a test that you might not pass. But hey, that’s how it goes for all of us, even the Liberal Arts majors. So, while I am sorry you have to take challenging courses, I do not feel bad for you. You chose that. My courses are just challenging in a different way.

Here lies my challenge for you.

1. Do not complain about the courses you are taking.

2. Do not talk to your peers in a condescending way, because you have a “harder” major.

3. Do the best you can do, and know that is all that you can do.