You've finally gotten through the monotony of basic university studies. All those credits dedicated to subjects thats didn't really interest you paid off because you've figured out your major, a future that looks bright. Now when relatives ask you that same old questions at family gatherings, you can give them a concrete answer and be proud of it. You can expect the following to happen when you start getting into your major classes.
1. You're actually excited about school.
Hopefully your major is something you are passionate about. When you go to class, you'll be interested in the subject matter and studying it won't seem so awful to you. You're excited to discover all of the possibilities that await you.
2. You foster an identity on campus.
Once you get into your major, your friends and others students will recognize you as belonging to that major. Maybe you even have a shirt or sweatshirt that has your major on it. You learn to wear the title loud and proud, because it is your specialty, what you know best.
3. You plan your future job.
There's probably talk within your major about what you're actually going to do with it. Sadly, we can't stay in school forever. Whether the job options pertaining to your major are wide or narrow, you probably have started thinking about what your future job is actually going to be.
4. You want to take everything.
While paging through your course catalogue, almost everything seems interesting, especially your major electives. Take this as a sign you've picked the right major, one that will really spark your interest. Unfortunately, you probably don't have the time to take every single class that interests you, but hopefully you pick out some good ones to take before you graduate.
5. Professors seem more chill.
I know this might not be true for all professors, but something I've noticed is that professors that teach major classes are a lot more willing to meet and work with you than professors that teach general studies. They are happy that you are interested in what they do for a living and want you succeed. Plus they might drop a few F bombs in class if they're really ranting.
6. The library becomes your place.
The workload definitely does not get lighter as you get into your major. The research papers and exams vamp up and it's time to buckle down. What better place than to lose your sanity than the library? You can be found there into the wee hours of the night, hopefully not pulling your hair out too much.
7. It gets overwhelming.
8. You finally get a hold on everything.
It may take a little bit of time, but eventually you finally get a handle on everything. You figure out the best way to study, how to write your papers in the appropriate format (curse you, APA), and how your professors grade. Take a deep breath, you earned it.
9. Internships internships internships.
In order to get a true flavor of the jobs associated with your major, you will probably find yourself in an internship or research project that allows you to apply everything you've learned in the classroom. While internships can be competitive and a lot of work, you get a chance to learn some really awesome things.
10. Your social life gets put on hold.
Freshman year seems like another world to you at this point. As the semester progresses, you find it harder and harder to go out on the weekends. Either you're too exhausted from your week or have a huge test coming up. Just try to allot some time to blow off steam with your people!
11. You second guess yourself.
I don't think I know one person who hasn't second guessed their major. It's a serious thing, so it makes sense for so many of us to question if it's really the right path for us. It's important to take a step back, talk it out with someone, and remember why you chose it in the first place.
12. You feel proud.
All the work pays off eventually and you will be able to feel proud of yourself and all that you have accomplished. Congratulations, you have you life together (or at least it's on the right track).
