What It's Like To Change Majors
Start writing a post
Student Life

What It's Like To Change Majors

Why did I change my major from Criminal Justice to African and African American Studies?

10
What It's Like To Change Majors

When I first applied for college back in 2014, I knew what field I want to study and what I wanted to do after college. The major I wanted to study was criminal justice, because I wanted to become a police officer. Being a police officer was my dream job, ever since I was in 8th grade.

In February 2015, I remember talking about it to my mom, but she wasn't happy about my future. She didn’t want me to put my life on the line or get shot by a criminal. As for my mom, she wanted me to become a nurse, because 3 reasons

  1. She's a nurse
  2. It's a great field
  3. She wanted me to follow her path

I agreed with my mom while she was talking to me about having a career in nursing, but I refused to be a nurse. Therefore, I stayed with criminal justice.

Four months late,r after my orientation, I had a feeling I would have a terrible career in criminal justice or won't be able to like it, so I decided to change my major to Sports Journalism, because I love talking about sports and watching them. Therefore, I emailed the journalism advisor named Brad Longwell about changing my major to Sports Journalism.

Me: “Hello Longwell, my name is Henry Lyon and I am an Incoming Freshman and majoring Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. I want to email you today, because I want to change my major to Sports Journalism and be a Cronkite student. Do I have to wait until school starts or can I change my major anytime?”

Longwell replied: “Hi Henry, I'm very happy that you're going to be a Sun Devil this Fall! In order to change your major to Sports Journalism, you have to take 4 non-journalism classes and maintain a 3.0 by the end of the semester. So if I were you, I would wait until the end of the spring semester to change, if it's alright with you.”

After I read his words, I was a little upset because I wanted to change my major as soon as possible, instead of waiting until the end of the semester. Therefore, I stayed with criminal justice for the Fall semester in 2015.

During the fall semester, I had to focus on Philosophy 101, Sociology 101, Intro to Criminal Justice 100, and English 101, in order to get into Sports Journalism and Cronkite. They were the non-journalism classes, except for English 101. Longwell let me take English 101 as one of my non-journalism classes. All I had to do is to get a 3.0 and I’m in! That's like making the basketball team.

Anyway, I passed all of them and made the standard. Although, I decided to wait until the end of the spring semester to change my major.

When I was returning to Pennsylvania for Winter break, my mom picked me up at the airport. In the car, I had a conversation with her about my semester and changing my major to Sports Journalism.

She asked

“Why Sports Journalism?”

Me: "Because I love talking about sports and want to become an ESPN Analyst.”

Mom: "I hope I see you on TV one day."

One month later, back in Arizona, I went to my first CSRD’s (Center For The Study Of Race And Democracy) event ever, when they were hosting a movie night and we were watching a documentary called “Slavery By Another Name” at the nursing building on the Downtown Phoenix campus. It was their first event of the semester. While I was watching the documentary, I was shocked what I was watching, especially how the characters tell their stories to us.

After watching the film, I was thinking to myself

“How come out of all of the history teachers I had back in middle school and high school didn't teach us about this stuff?”

I've never learned about Black History throughout my life, except Black History Month. Back in secondary school and elementary school, they taught us about White History and World History, which I'm not against or hate. However, why couldn't we learn about our culture or Black History? That's why I want to become a history teacher and teach the students about Black History.

Anyway, I went back to my dorm room, went to the ASU website to see if they have a major that has to do with Black History and I found African and African American studies on the list.

So I made a final decision to make an appointment at the School of Social Transformation building in Tempe and change my major to African and African American Studies and gave up on Sports Journalism.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

56274
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

36254
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

958184
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

188021
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments