Did you know that about 80% of students in the U.S. end up switching their major at least once?
It amazes me to see how much pressure we put on ourselves to know at the age of 18 what we want to do with the rest of our lives. Sometimes I don’t even know what I want to eat for lunch, but don’t worry because in the future I know exactly what I want to do.
When I began looking for colleges, I thought it would be so easy to choose a university and just go. I had all of my expectations and plans laid out for my future school, but the big question was “What was I going to do with the rest of my life?” I did what I know how to do best, I researched.
I took one business class in high school and did not enjoy it, but I was good at it. But of course, that one class sort of ruined business for me, so I looked up medical field careers. I thought I would be interested in doing something with science, not to mention medical careers pay well.
I went into Lewis University freshman year as a nursing major. It was August 2020 and I thought because of COVID-19, nurses were very much needed so it would be easy to get a job right after college. I was looking for the easiest way, but also the hardest way. I thought I would truly enjoy nursing and helping people, which I do enjoy helping people, but not in a medical sense.
So I switched my major the next semester to chemistry with a concentration in forensics. I enjoyed it, but couldn’t see it as a career. I am in my fourth semester as a college student and should be half way through my major by now. But I am actually just restarting… again. But I am okay with it because I finally found what I enjoy and that is digital marketing. I could’ve wasted my whole life settling for some job that I don’t enjoy.
I do wish I would’ve gone into college undecided because then I could have explored more and probably could have been more prepared, but I was stubborn and thought I needed a major right off the bat. The National Center for Education Statistics states “On average, college students change their major at least three times over the course of their college career.”
So, take it from me, it is okay to change your major as much as you need to. Make sure you do what you enjoy and don’t listen to what everyone around you says because it is your future, not theirs.Sure, I talked to people about switching before I did it and took some of their advice, but this decision is yours. It’s your life after all.
