We enter college with this idea in mind as to what we want to do with our lives. We know the general agenda for our following four years beginning, and well ending, with school. We even know the gist of what we want to do with the degree we receive when we graduate; our dream jobs, our relationships goals, and new living situations are all in mind when we think about where our future paths may lead. But sometimes these dreams can change. Sometimes, you are not sure of your decisions and the limitations you put on yourself when you declare a major. Some people know exactly what they want to do career wise and never second guess it; they take classes for their major and follow all the intended instructions provided for an clear and manageable educational path. But others just aren't so sure if they made the right decision after taking classes or at least becoming more interested in another field. And if you are one of those people who decide that you just aren't happy, make the change.
College is a sea of educational opportunities; there is any class under the sun that can suit your interests and demands. Especially during the first year, maybe two, you are required to take general education courses to meet state requirements and provide a stable background for what can benefit your major. Most of these classes are not made available during our previous educational careers so we never know exactly what we are getting ourselves into. You can hate the class, or you can love it so much that it sparks your interests more than your intended major. This happens and it can be frustrating to feel so safe in your decisions just for them to get uprooted because you found something that makes your happier.
If I have heard one thing from these students who have made the change, it's that they regret nothing when they make that leap of faith. After finding something that they know will make them elated doing for the rest of their lives, they don't want to look back at what could have been or what their previous goals were. It can be disheartening when having to start over with the new major, because for however long you were on your previous path you still had to pay money and give a lot of effort to those classes. For some people, they will be required to go to school longer than four years to finish the graduation requirements which will mean more work, but if it's in the name of doing something you love, then there should be no regrets.
In the grand scheme of life, four years is really not a long time and even if you have to spend more time in school, what difference would a few more years be when trying to become who you aspire to be. We will be working for the next 50+ years of our lives so why rush this crucial time just to enter into the "real world" that we will eventually get to and stay at. It may be arduous having to spend more time in school, but it will be even more problematic entering a workforce doing something that you don't like. The chances of you changing your career to something completely different later in life is not only next to impossible, it will be incredibly risky. By the time you may feel the need to take the leap, you have too many other life demands that will get in the way of an easy transition; you will most likely have a house, your own family, and plenty of bills that need to be paid without question. If you quit your job, you will not be earning an income that can support these priorities and by the time you find a new one, you are going to be starting at the bottom of the totem pole just like you did when you first received your degree. So avoid any of this exponential frustration and make the change you desire when it is more applicable and doable.
Even if you know you want to be in medical but decide you maybe don't want to be an orthopedic, it's okay to dabble in another field like oncology if that's what interests you more. If you want to be a writer and started in journalism, it's perfectly fine to check out editorial because you think it may fit your desires better. If anything, you may find that you made the right choice to begin with but if you do not check out the possibilities, you will live with the "what ifs?" Take this time to figure out exactly what you want and need to live a happy life. Do not worry about time or money because even if you are racking up loans, if you are working hard enough to achieve the job you want, you will eventually receive a position that will support your financial needs. To get to where you want, you need to be sure of your choices and have faith that you are capable of accomplishing anything you put your mind to. Do not second guess yourself because if you want something bad enough, you need to fight for it and trust that there will be success beyond the finish line, or the graduation stage.
