Imagine going to college for four and a half years, then graduating, and suddenly realizing I still have no idea what I want to do with my life. Well, that's me. And you know what? I'm actually okay with it. Sort of. My entire life I had always known what I wanted to do. Since I could remember, I wanted to be a teacher. In high school I was in an internship program where I was placed in various classrooms and even taught a few lessons. I loved it, and by the time my freshman year in college came, I was certain that teaching was what I was meant to do with my life.
Then came my junior/senior year of college. Every education major has to pass the PAPA exam, which allows you to be certified to teach certain grade levels. When I found out from my advisor that I was not the only one struggling to pass the exam (at the time I was told that there was only a 40 percent passing rate overall) I became frustrated. Why was I putting myself through all of this unneeded stress on top of my school work, for a test that seemed nearly impossible for me to ever pass? I took the same exam, the same module, four times. By the final time that I didn't pass, I sat down with my advisor, who told me that at this point I would be better off changing my major, and then getting a masters in education. I would actually graduate earlier this way.
So that's what I did. Needless to say changing your major your senior year of college is pretty daunting. I certainly wouldn't recommend it unless you have situation similar to mine. But I worked my way through it. I actually lucked out because I was already a secondary education major with a history concentration, so when I switched to just history, I was virtually on the same track that I would have been had I started out as a history major. I was excited about my new major though I did, and still do, miss studying education. But I have never wavered in knowing that it was the right choice for me.
Fast forward to my final semester of school, I still wanted to complete my history program, then take a year off, and go back to get my masters in education. It was the plan I was told was best for me by my advisor, and so it was the course that I was pursuing. I became full-time at my job teaching preschool, immediately after graduating, and I thought that I would never question being a teacher. Now, as I sit back, only a short time after finishing up school, I've started to realize that I'm no longer really sure what I want to do.
Having a history degree is similar to that of having an english degree. You can get a job almost anywhere, and in anything. History and english majors are popular because they are writing intensive majors, and a lot of employers are encouraged by knowing that you are able to write well and coherently. This is where my dilemma stems from. I'm beginning to realize that I have countless options for jobs I could apply for, masters I could get, and so forth.
Lately, I've been considering everything from still becoming a teacher, to being a journalist, to even being a park ranger. It's exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time. Knowing that the world really is open to me, and that I can pursue a vast spectrum of careers has never been so freeing, and also, so terrifying. It makes trying to figure out my life that much more difficult because I could go into so many fields. I know it's a good problem to have.
Truthfully, it is frustrating still not knowing what I want to do. But I've also been told that this is a normal thing for a lot of college graduates to go through. Still, coming to terms with the fact that for the first time in my life, I'm just sort of winging it, has been a struggle for me at times. I drive my boyfriend crazy going on about how I don't know what I want to do, and I give my dad major anxiety because I'm hesitant to get a masters until I figure out what I really want. But I'm slowly beginning to realize, that at the end of the day, I am the only person who is going to be directly impacted by my career choice. I need to be happy, and I certainly do not want to waste my money and time getting a master's degree in something that I'm not truly passionate about. So yes, in my year or so off, I may concern some people, but ultimately, what I do know is that I want to be sure that whatever I get my masters in will turn into a worthwhile career for me that enjoy and love.
Even if this article doesn't give step-by-step directions on how to figure out your life after graduation, I hope that it at least gives some hope and comfort to other people in my shoes. The cliche that "life is hard" is true, and it really won't get any easier. But that's one of the best things about it, every struggle helps your successes become that much more meaningful. Yes, it can be incredibly frustrating to graduate and still be unsure of your future. But have no fear, you're not the only one.
