11 September 2018
Abby Jadali
Straight out of high school is a time when we are supposed to know what we want to do with the rest of our lives. When applying to colleges, they ask us what our major is and our eighteen year old selves are supposed to put something down, practically locking in our future at such a young age.
Once in college, we start taking gen-ed classes as well as classes that pertain to the major we put down months before. What happens when those classes that you are forced to take become more interesting than the classes you need for your major?
You sit there, telling your family and friends that you are thinking of switching your major and more likely than not, they are telling you that you don’t know what you’re doing, you just haven’t taken enough classes or you are going to put yourself behind. Well, maybe all of that is true, but maybe it isn’t. hy hold yourself back from doing something you actually enjoy?
When I first applied to UCCS, I was enrolled in Elementary Education, and after careful consideration, I switched to Sociology. Once in Sociology for a semester, I switched to Personal Nutrition and after a whole year, I switched to a major in English, something I am so glad I decided to do.
I remember my parents and friends worrying about me being behind, and having wasted my money. I also remember everyone worrying that a degree in English wouldn’t get me anywhere in the future.
I am here to tell you that all of that is absolutely not true.
Since switching to a degree in English, I have not only been on track in my degree, but I am going to be graduating a semester early. It also gave me confidence to pursue jobs that will help me in my future, look into amazing internship opportunities and so much more.
Too often people are choosing majors that will guarantee them a job after college, thinking that money is the only thing they need to pursue. But in reality, life is so much better if you are passionate in the degree you receive. You are more likely to go after things you never thought you would, as well as get better grades that you ever thought you could.
If you are going through college and the classes you are taking for your major do not bring you joy in learning, then you are doing something wrong.
Changing your degree is not the end of the world, as long as you are smart about it. Maybe you need to take extra classes each semester or take classes during the summer. Anything to keep you ahead of the game.
Same thing goes for people that did not apply to a college with a degree in mind. Take as many gen-ed classes as you need, in all different kinds of subjects, until you find the ones that interest you and you can see yourself doing for life.
We put too much pressure on people to choose their major at such a young age, and to never switch it once they are in. I promise you that if you study the things you are passionate about (even if it is just a minor) you will enjoy your schooling experience that much more.