When I was little I always knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be a teacher and help children learn. Sounds simple, right? Think again. Flash forward to sophomore year of college. After observing first graders at a local elementary school, I realized maybe teaching isn’t what I wanted to do after all. So there I was, after wanting to be a teacher ever since I could remember, not knowing what to do next.
I’ve always liked to write. I started writing television fanfiction and creating my own stories at the age of twelve. At first, I always thought of it as a cool hobby, but never imagined that I could get paid for it. Once I realized that I could, I really started to warm up to the idea. I decided I wanted to become a writer, so I switched my major to English. It didn’t turn out quite like I expected it to. Instead of writing and using my creative skills, I now sat in front of a textbook trying to interpret what the story meant, instead of just reading and writing about what I thought about it, which some students might find interesting, but it was not for me.
Around that time I started taking media classes for my minor and even decided to join the newspaper as a staff writer. It was then that I realized I enjoyed learning about media and how to write the correct grammar for media writing. As the old saying goes, “third times the charm” and I am now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications, media and theater with a minor in media.
So, for those who are struggling with either choosing a major for the first time, or thinking about changing a major, I know that it can be a confusing and possibly stressful experience because it changes and shapes the rest of your life. But there are people who can help including teachers, parents and close friends. It is always great to talk to someone when you are unsure of what career path you want to take for the rest of your life. I think one helpful tip to get students through these confusing times is to ask yourself if you are happy with what you are studying in your classes. Will you possibly enjoy what you are learning and enjoy it as a career in the future? If the answer is yes, then you probably made the right choice for yourself. If not, that is okay too. Just remember it is your life that you are living and that asking yourself questions and having a great support system including friends and family will lead you to the road you have always wanted to follow or perhaps like myself, you will choose the road less traveled.