When we were growing up, all we wanted to do was be another year older. We wanted all of the privileges that came with having another tally added to our chart of life, and we wanted to be recognized for how mature and responsible we were. Before we knew it, we were seniors in high school and we were having the time of our lives. We were finally that perfect age where we had enough freedom to enjoy ourselves and had actually kind of figured out where we fit into the crazy world. Unfortunately, time flies when you’re having fun, and a few short months later we were graduating. We all said our goodbyes and headed off to college where we were once again the freshman of the school trying to find our place in the world around us. To add to the stress of being in a new environment, society forces us to decide what exactly it is that we want to do with the rest of our lives. Seriously, at 19 how the hell am I supposed to know what I want to be doing when I’m in my 30’s? I can barely tell you what I want to do with the rest of my day.
I personally went into my first year at Ohio State as a set-in-stone Vocal Performance/Music Education major. Music was all I really knew how to do at that point, and I figured since I loved to sing I would love to have it be my career. Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong about that. After just one month of being in my major (as a music major you start off taking the required major related classes) I started hating something that I once loved. I made it a point then to switch out of music the following semester and go into our exploratory program. From there I decided doing Physical Therapy would be pretty cool, and shortly after realized that I can’t really handle being in the medical field, so that idea was a bust. Then I considered Occupational Therapy because it sounded pretty cool, which I also decided didn’t fit me.
Keep in mind that my parents were never too thrilled that I hadn’t made a decision yet, and I was starting to get nervous that I still hadn’t found something I loved. All I really knew was that I loved music, animals, and parties. Finally, after changing my mind 20 different times, I have landed on something that suits a variety of my interests and allows me to do something that doesn’t require sitting behind a desk all day (which if that’s what you’re into, then more power to ya).
After talking to the people around me, I’ve realized that I’m not alone on this path of enlightenment, in fact many people are in the same situation that I am. Many wonder how they are supposed to find something they love to do that is realistic and that will actually give you a sense of success after your four (or five) year chapter we call college. While I used to feel bad about wanting to change my major, or not knowing what I wanted to change it to, I’ve learned a few things about that first year of school.
- Your first year is almost completely general education classes. AKA: welcome to high-school on steroids.
- Being undecided is okay. Seriously. You don’t have to have the whole world figured out just yet.
- Changing your mind is also okay.
Seriously, it’s just a bunch of standard classes that would be like your 13th year in school, well, because it is. You’ll have your math, science, social sciences, and random art classes that take up your time.
They have this wonderful thing called the exploration program that allows you to do just that: explore. Use that time to try a bunch of classes that will help lead you to what you want to do with your future. Take advantage of this cushiony period of time that the university gives to you.
Don’t feel pressured to stick with something you no longer think you love, you’ll probably regret it later when it’s too late to make a change. You have around two years to really make a solid decision, so please take advantage of that time to explore your options.
So if you’re like I was and start off unsure about what it is you’re supposed to be doing with your life, then don’t feel bad and definitely don’t panic. You’re allowed to change your major for a reason, and you’ve usually got about two years before you really need to make a decision anyway. Plus, life has a funny way of working itself out in the end if you let it. Cheers to being indecisive.
