I’d like to start off by saying something I feel like everyone knows, but from time to time, they still let doubts creep in, or they even start to panic and drive themselves crazy about. Aside from those who choose not to pursue a college education and have plans of their own to succeed in life, I promise you, it's perfectly fine to be in college and not know what you want to do.
Another thing I’d like to say is that cliché about changing your degree a couple of times in college is very real for some people. And there’s no shame in that, nor is there any in not finishing your degree in four years for that same reason. It’s also very OK to be uneasy and worry about not knowing for sure, as long as you’re willing to take the time and be patient while trying figure it all out. Always remember that time spent figuring out your life isn’t time that’s wasted, it’s necessary. We all know that college is a lot of your parents' or your future money (if you use loans) invested in your future. And more importantly, it's an investment in what you plan to do with the rest of your life. Why would you want to invest in something you’re unsure of?
I say all of this because I know from personal experience having changed my major three times before I had “That moment”. That moment of clarity where the stars aligned and flip was switched and all of a sudden I knew one of the things I for sure want to do with my life and almost just as importantly what I want to do with my Health Studies degree. I don’t think I’d be the only one to choose not graduate ‘on time’ knowing I’m working towards something I love over graduating and either not knowing what I want to do or realizing I hate what I do after getting to finally experience it.
The important thing to take away for those of you in college, regardless of where you are in obtaining your degree, is that life is so much longer than you realize, and if you have the will to do so, you really do have all the time in the world. All the time to decide on the thing or things that you’ll do and love to do for the rest of your life.
Who’s to say that you can’t wake up one morning at the age of 40, having fulfilled your desire in life of being a teacher, and going online to apply to school again, but this time to pursue a career in nursing after realizing you want to help people in a different way? I challenge everyone that reads this to really think about that, and maybe it’ll open the eyes of the people that are sleeping on potential or different passions they don’t know they have.
