When I was in high school, I thought I had it all figured it. I had my college major picked out by the time I was a sophomore, and I continued planning and detailing my career goals for after I finished college.
But, how, at the inexperienced age of 15, was I really supposed to know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life?
Between participating in extracurriculars, working to keep grades up and studying for the ACT, I often felt the pressure to have everything figured out by the time I entered college.
However, when I got to college my naive notions would be put to the test as I soon found out that the goals I once thought I wanted weren’t really for me. During the spring semester of my freshman year, I had to force myself to go to class every day because I didn’t like the courses I was taking. I found it harder to envision a future in the major I was so convinced I wanted to pursue for so many years.
This confused me because for so long the major and career that I thought I really wanted wasn’t for me at all. All the planning, decision-making and preparation I had done seemed useless.
One day, I was sitting in class, doodling in my notebook and trying to ignore the growing notion in my head that I needed a change. With a sudden realization, I came out of my class dedicated to the idea that I would find a new major.
After researching other majors that Bradley offered and taking part in some self-reflection, I picked my new major, sports communication, a major that I thought better suited me. Every day since I changed my major, I have been a happier and better person. I find going to class more enjoyable, getting involved is easier and imagining a future in the field inspires confidence.
What I learned in my experience is the point of coming to college is not to pursue what you already have figured out, it’s to find out what is really going to make you the best person that you can be.
The pressure put on a college student to have everything figured out at all times is constant, but it’s not realistic. We are young individuals who have barely experienced most of what the world has to offer. It’s okay to not have everything figured out right away.
Using the tools that college provides us, we can discover the people that we truly are with time.
When I was in high school, I thought it would be bad if I went to college with an undecided major. Today, I’d say that being undecided and not having it all figured out allows personal growth and permits college students to open themselves up to new experiences..
