So you end senior year with a plan. You tell yourself, “Hey self, you’re going to be a nursing major.” You feel secure in your plan and relieved that you finally have direction. Then you get to college. You’re allowed the freedom to take any class that you’re interested in, which changes your perspective. It opens up doors that you may have never thought existed before. You begin to question your plan and realize it doesn’t fit your growing personality. You feel lost and disoriented, but you know you need a change.
This is what happened to me during my first semester of freshman year. I came into college with a whole future planned out, only to realize that this planned future wasn't the one I wanted. This was very scary for me because I like to plan. I have four calendars: a planner, a calendar on my phone, a calendar on my computer and a calendar on my desk. Nowhere on any of those planning devices could I plan what was coming next for me. This realization added a ton of newfound stress to my life, which I now understand was unnecessary.
I am now content with my plan-less life. I am content to let my interests grow and change at their own pace. Every once in a while, the stress that I experienced tries to creep back in. When this happens, I remind myself that sometimes, not knowing is OK. By not being locked into a set direction at this point in my life, I am still able to freely change my mind without it negatively affecting my future. This is a liberating feeling, a feeling of new possibility. Once I realized this, my college experience became exciting instead of terrifying.
As I round the corner to the end of freshman year, I have realized a few things. First off, the first year of college is a year to find who you are in a place where no one knows you—a year to break away from who you were known as. It is a time to grow as a person and a student. You're allowed to re-invent yourself and become who you want to be. Second, it's OK to not have a plan; don't stress about it. The more stress you make for yourself, the more trouble you'll have. When you need to know, you'll know. Lastly, I've switched my major once already and will likely do so again. I don't want to settle for something that I don't absolutely love, so I'll keep trying things out until I find my passion. Don't be afraid to choose passion over logic. Relying simply on what is logical and what is not will lead to a less full life.