Undergraduates are depicted as relentlessly running around in a state of frenzy. While this is not always the case, I can attest for it being the case a good majority of the time. As an undergrad, you are experiencing a lot of firsts and experiences that will direct where you end up and what kind of lifepath you will have. At least, that's the way it feels at the time.
Included with staying caught up in classes, undergraduate students are occupied with pumping up their resumes with leadership positions, clubs, volunteer opportunities, scholarship applications, and work experience. Additionally, working with faculty in their department is an ongoing responsibility for the student to develop the skills necessary to excel in their field, not to mention the importance of developing a lasting relationship with the faculty for current learning experiences and future letters of recommendation. These are just some of the items on the educational to-do list. These students are also making time for personal hobbies, relationships with friends and family members, health and wellbeing, all while seeking to set up a secure future.
Needless to say, there is a lot for an undergraduate to be focusing on, This increases the potential for them to question what they are doing and perhaps feel like they are making the wrong decisions.
However, through all the hustle and bustle of college undergraduate life, there will come a day when you realize that you truly love what you are studying. Do not fear if this day takes all four years of your undergraduate career, if you have switched majors a couple of times, or if it happens after your very first class in the subject area, one day you will find yourself in a field you are deeply appreciative to be in. There is no timetable for this moment and it will probably sneak up on you when you least expect it to.
Let me tell you just how amazing this moment is. When it does occur, whenever that may be, you will have this feeling of utmost gratitude for what you are studying. All of a sudden, you will just know that you belong in this field and that the educational path you have chosen is suitable for you. The moment could hit you pretty hard out of nowhere or you could see yourself gradually growing more and more fond of your studies, either way, the realization will leave you feeling content, proud, and excited.
For those of you who haven't experience this moment, do not fret, it will come. Keep working diligently and with an open mind to learn from all experiences that occur throughout your undergraduate career. Remember to accept every moment as it is, there are always going to be some moments that are more positive and some that are more negative. The highs and lows will continue even after you have this realization of how much you love studying in your field, there is no doubt about that. Yet, after you have this realization, it becomes easier to remember why you are studying in the first place. By keeping your goals in mind, as well as the rush of positive feelings that you felt when you had that moment of genuine love for your area of study, then it becomes easier to find the motivation to keep going.
The moment when you realize just how cool it is to study whatever you are specializing in as an undergraduate comes and goes. Even the simplest split second when it really settles in and you truly know that you love your field can have the greatest impact on your outlook on college and even life in general. The moment slips away quickly, but the effect is longlasting.
If you have experienced this moment, I hope that you were aware of it at the time or can at least recall its importance right now. If you have not had this moment of realization yet, do not worry because it will happen when it's meant to. And when it does, I hope that you fully embrace it.
I hope you really appreciate what you are investing so much time and money into studying. We are so lucky to have access to higher education and sometimes this is easily forgotten amongst the stressors of everyday life.