It feels as though half of my time spent at college thus far has been answering the loaded question of, “So, what’s your major?” Upon arriving at college, many people and advisors expect students to have a substantial idea of what their future will consist of and of the ways we hope to eventually obtain this ideal future. Throughout high school, I never had an epiphany or moment of clarification that lead me to answer this question for myself. Math and science were never my areas of expertise, and career options within English always appeared limited. Actively and consciously searching for something that sparks passion is very challenging and, in my case, rather unsuccessful. I went through dozens of possible majors in my head, ranging from teaching to physical therapy. Needless to say, I was all over the place. It wasn’t until I joined the staff of my high school yearbook junior year that I finally felt like I had come across something unique and of great relevance to my personal strengths. Journalism and this form of communication arts opened me up to a whole new world of possibilities.
Of my immediate family, I am the only member who does not intend to pursue a career in the science field, so my interest in writing and communications was an aspect customized to me. The way in which journalism and all its subparts have the ability to extend their influence all over the world, while introducing creativity and perspective back into society is what sold me on this particular career path. Although a minor example, writing for my high school yearbook forced me out of my comfort zone since I had to interview and talk to people about their stories and interests that I may have never come across otherwise. This broadened my knowledge not only about my school, but the people that I passed in the hallway or saw in class everyday, but never inquired. It provided me with a more in depth perception of my school and all the diversity that accompanied it. Excited to extend this form of knowledge to broader populations, I decided to attempt to pursue a career in journalism or communication arts at Wisconsin-Madison, a place filled with a diverse population.
Those who know me may describe me as being more on the shy side, but writing has always provided me with a new outlet and way to express my thoughts on paper. It is clear to me that I am much better at presenting on paper, as opposed to verbally. The idea that words can spread messages and be loaded with meaning that can reach all types of people and all types of places is what I cherish the most about writing. With journalism, the possibilities are endless and the outcomes of its work can be tremendous. It has always baffled me that the simple way something is written and the words being used to describe a certain event or tell a certain story can invoke such a strong emotional response or even action. The power of words is one that is often overlooked, but I believe it is one that has shaped our knowledge of just about everything.
Math and science are inarguably essential to the well-being and structure of our world, but I was driven to choose a major within journalism with the hopes of one-day inspiring others with my own words and to bring light to the countless stories of others, while connecting with the world around me in a new way.
