During my time at college, I have come across many people who are indifferent towards their major. Either they just aren’t overtly interested in it or they are just doing it so they can get a good job once they graduate, missing out on the passion towards the field. I started out as one of these people when I began my college career as a Psychology major. The subject interested me a lot, and still does, but the fact that I couldn’t get into any in-depth psych classes until my junior year made me become disinterested in the department as a whole. To occupy my schedule and time until I was eligible for those classes, I completed all of my general requirements and started taking some fun English Literature classes because I’ve always loved to read. That is when I discovered what my true calling is English.
My first literature and writing courses were an eye-opening experience, and I felt at home. I loved everything about the department: the teachers, the way the classes were set up, and the material we covered. I found myself excited to go to class and do all of the readings (and trust me, it’s a lot) and felt like I was really learning and enriching my life. I got to learn about so many different authors and books I wouldn’t have known about had I not been in the field. In short, I loved it. I loved learning how to become a better writer, and having discussions about classic works of literature made me feel like I was finally getting my intellectual college experience I had been wanting and not receiving with my Psychology major.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with psychology, but personally, it had never fulfilled me enough. I was never as excited or passionate about it as my peers were. I found the subject very interesting and have learned so much about the human mind because of it, but I couldn’t see myself enjoying it as a career for the rest of my life. I decided to keep psychology and double major, but instead of wanting to pursue psychology as a career, I’ve discovered that I want to follow my English degree instead. With my English major, I would love to work in publishing, as many English majors dream to do, and perhaps even write a book one day. By pursuing this degree, I have discovered that I love to write and have been able to develop and fine-tune this skill as I go along.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that if you only feel mediocre about the field you have chosen to study, look elsewhere for something that piques your interest. There is definitely a field of study out there for everybody, and if you’re paying for it, why not do something that you are enthusiastic about? Choosing a major that you’re in love with makes school so much more exciting and fun because you are enjoying what you are learning and you don’t feel forced to do it. At the end of the day, that’s what college is supposed to be about, a higher level of education about something that you’re completely invested in. Discovering your passion will make it a calling and a calling will make a difference.
