As we are growing up, we are always asked what we want to be when we grow up. Sometimes the answers we give are what we sincerely want out of our lives, but more often than not we change our minds. As we get older, our likes and interests change and that’s only natural, but when it comes to our college years, we have to give a definite answer.
We are required to declare our major the second semester of our sophomore year. Now this may seem like it’s really soon, but is it really? Thinking about it, it is a lot of time. When we first come into college, we think we know exactly what we are going to major in, but we face a huge reality check once we start taking classes that pertain to our majors. Going back to our childhood, sometimes the answers we gave when asked what we are majoring in are the things that we end up sticking with, but there are also times when we find out that what we thought we wanted was not what we really wanted at all. That feeling can be completely overwhelming because then you’re faced with the issue and question of, “Now what?”
If you came into college not having any idea of what you want to do, then I think it is important to take the classes that sound appealing to you. This way you are likely to find something that will just click inside of you and you’ll know that that is something you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life.
Our first few semesters of college should be all about exploring and trying new things, but a line needs to be set. Spending any more than those first three or four semesters trying to find yourself could really hurt you in the future. If you’re the type of person that really does want to never leave college, than more power to you and your bank account. I’m not saying that taking all of these random classes won’t count for anything, but if you spend all of your time exploring and not settling down on one thing, then you may not graduate in a timely manner. Take that first year to find yourself, but try not to take too long.
Now, what if you’re one of those people that have absolutely no doubts that what you are majoring in is what you definitely want to stay majored in. I think declaring any earlier than second semester sophomore year is not the greatest idea. Personally, I entered college knowing that I was going to be a communications major. I went through my first-year thinking it was great and I had no intentions of changing. Well now, I’m in the first semester of my sophomore year, and although I still don’t have any intentions of changing my major, I will admit that I had some doubts. Typically, once you start your sophomore year, you start getting into the courses that are going to count for your major and that can be really scary. If you’re like me, then you may have had some doubts and worries and thought that maybe you shouldn’t be doing this for the rest of your life, because it isn’t what you thought it was going to be. We’re in the middle of the semester and after giving it some time, I realized that all of my doubts and worries were for nothing, because I chose my major for a reason.
They say that patience is a virtue and I think whoever “they” are is right. Taking the time to think things through and really plan can make all the difference in the world. My mom always told me not to wish my life away, and I think by rushing into your declaration could result in settling for something that you may not always want. My mom also told me that I sometimes move slower than molasses in January, so taking your sweet old time is not the best idea either. Finding that middle ground is important, and I think that the rule of declaring your major the second semester of your sophomore year is finding that middle ground. Find yourself within your first year of college, and maybe even creep into your first semester of your second year, but remember that in order to start your life, you need to pick one path and be happy with it first.
