As children, we dream of what we want to be when we grow up: pilots, firefighters, veterinarians, doctors. As a child the options are endless. It seems as if anything we put our minds to is possible. But as we get older and actually grow up, the complexities of our world are illuminated and our dreams often morph into more of a reality.
When I entered college I had no idea what dream I wanted to pursue. I had dreams of being a producer, an environmentalist, a journalist, an entrepreneur. My childhood imagination continued to run wild with ideas of who I would become. When it came to declaring a major I was lost. How on earth could I pick one major to encompass everything that I wanted to try in life?
According to Central College, “75 percent of American college students… either start their college career as undecided or change their major at least once.” Even so, I did not want to be one of these 75 percent of American college students. I am a huge planner and the concept of not knowing what major to choose or career to pursue was a constant stressor. As the semester progressed I began to explore more of my options and intrinsically reflect on my interests. Through this, I ended up finding a major that I am truly passionate about. If you are struggling to find your calling in college, I encourage you to continue reading this article. You are not alone in the struggle and I would love to offer you some inspiration in the journey that lies ahead of you.
First and foremost, take a deep breath. College is a time for self-discovery and development. It is okay if you don’t know exactly who you are or what you want to do. As you go through your college career there will be various courses, conversations and events that help develop your character, passions and goals in life.
Secondly, I recommend taking the time to create a list of your interests, values and passions. Take the time to reflect on the things in your life that make you tick. What kinds of activities do you do when you lose track of time? What beliefs do you hold at the core of your being? I have a running list of these types of things in my notes app. Whenever I find myself completely engrossed in a conversation or activity I write it down. Slowly your list will grow and you may even begin to see a common theme within your interests, values and passions.
The next step I recommend is meeting with the Center for Career Development. I truly believe that this is an underrated resource at Eastern University. I turned to the Center for Career Development when I was exploring majors. They helped me more clearly define my interests, values and passions in order to help me find my dream major. As we explored these parts of me I was led to the major of Digital Media and Strategic Communications. Since this meeting, I have fallen in love with the Communications major and the courses it entails. This major encompasses almost all of my interests, values and passions. Meeting with the Center for Career Development helped set me on a path for my future and I couldn’t be more appreciative.
Declaring a major can be a daunting task. There are so many options and it is hard to discover which best fits your unique personality. I hope that these little tidbits of information can help inspire you to take a deep breath, evaluate your core interests, values and passions and lead you to find the major that makes you truly tick.