When I began my first semester of college a month ago as a pre-nursing major, I thought I had my whole future figured out (jokes on me). I chose nursing because I knew I would always have a job in the medical field and I would make a sweet salary. When classes started and I immediately started struggling in anatomy (a fundamental class for any nursing major), I started second-guessing my major choice. I had been told that the beginning would be really difficult because schools try to weed out the students that aren't really in it for the long haul. I told myself I wasn't going to be a statistic. I didn't want to be "that student" who couldn't handle the general education classes and become defeated before the journey really even began.
But every day that passed, I started to question myself even more. I started to hate the idea of having a job just for the paycheck. I want to do something that I have a passion for and love waking up for every day. I realized that I had decided what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing based on how much money I would make instead of choosing something that I actually loved doing.
So, I took the leap. Five weeks into college, I decided to change my major to something that I love and have a passion for -- communications and photography and media art. I'm now on the road to my dream job, which is radio broadcasting and journalism. I would be lying if I said I'm not scared out of my mind. I transitioned from going to school for a career where I would always have a job with a steady paycheck to a job that I'm going to have to work extremely hard for to make a name for myself.
Despite it all, I could not be more excited to know I'm finally pursuing my dream, no matter how hard it may be. Changing your major may be small to some, but in the grand scheme of things, it is a pivotal point in college. You're spending thousands of dollars to study a subject that you think is your passion, then something comes along and changes your mind. Now, you're sitting there questioning who you are as a person! Do I want to be in this field my whole life? Are my motives pure or am I doing this all for the money? What if I do continue on this career path and then 15 years later I find myself unhappy and too exhausted to go back to school? If you have these same thoughts, trust me, you're not alone. Money is important, but happiness is the real life goal.
Life is too short to be anything but happy, so take the leap. If you love something and have a passion for it pursue it. Don't wake up for work 15 years from now full of dread. Do what you need to do now, so you can wake up absolutely ecstatic about what you get to do everyday. We all have the same 24 hours. How will you spend yours?
