Being told at 18 years old to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life is a lot of pressure. Since the seventh grade, I thought I wanted to be a music teacher. I even went into my first semester of college studying that. However, as I got deeper into my studies on the subject, I realized something. Being a music educator just wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong, I loved the time I spent studying music and the friends I made from it, but this just wasn't something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life.
That being said, I was definitely a person that was afraid to change her major, like I'm sure a lot of people are. Yeah, it can be a little bit nerve-racking to have to go through the process and then tell your adviser that you're leaving their department, especially when you come from such a close knit department like the music department. And yeah, it can be awkward and even annoying now having to correct every single person you meet that you're no longer studying whatever it was you were studying and you're on to something new in your life. But trust me, it can be so worth it!
Once you finally find your calling you'll know it. You'll no longer dread going to class, you'll actually enjoy it! You know you're in the right major when you finally think, "I'm actually really excited to study this." And trust me, that's a great feeling.
Another thing is, if you question what you're studying, then chances are, that's not what you're meant to do. It can be hard to believe one thing you're whole life and then all of a sudden you're no longer sure if you can see yourself doing this in five or even 10 years. But that's what college is all about! It's a time to find interests and figure out who you are. Coming out of college, you're going to be a different person than when you started. Even after your first semester, you'll find that you're not the same person you were coming in, and that's OK!
Don't let anyone try to convince you that you're wrong or weird for wanting to change your major. You're not spending thousands of dollars and hours upon hours in classrooms to please that person. You've come to college to study what you're passionate about and what you want to work with for the rest of you're life. Your friends will still be your friends no matter what job you're going after.
Your happiness is the most important, and if that means changing your major five times in four years, then do it! Find what makes you happy and what you're good at. Find your niche and your passion, and you study that subject as much as your little heart desires.
