May Challenge Day 8, A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

So, the prompt for today is to give a piece of advice you have for others. Occasionally, I get people asking for advice on my other blog (I know, I was as surprised as you are), and one day I got this question about choosing a major in college.

I answered it the best I could, because there's really not a right or wrong answer here, but after I was finished typing I reread it and thought to myself "...this is actually pretty freakin' good." So it might break some kind of cross-blogging rule, but I'm reposting what I said there. Because it's good advice. And I'm good at this game.

Oh man, anon. What a question.

Before I tell you anything, listen to me when I say this: do not let this decision stress you out. Seriously. Really, don’t. I don’t know how old you are, but the pressure that everyone puts on 19 year olds to choose a path they’re going to stay on for the REST OF THEIR LIFE is absurd.  

I have a dual degree in Elementary and Special Education, but I knew halfway through my junior year that I didn’t want to teach. I have MAD respect for teachers. I think they’re great. But when I was in college and I started getting involved in other stuff (Res Life and Service-Learning), I realized teaching just wasn’t my passion. And that’s okay.What I would suggest for you is to look at some of the majors that your school offers. Then look at the classes that are in that major. Do they sound interesting? Do they sound like something you’d enjoy and do well in? If so, talk to some professors in that department. Tell them you’re interested but unsure, and get their feedback. Then, look at the kinds of jobs you’ll be qualified for with that degree. Do those jobs sound appealing to you? What is the job market like in that field? 

If you choose something and you realize it’s not for you, that’s okay too. If you spend an extra semester at college because you needed to change your major, don’t sweat it. Trust me, the adult world sucks. Stay in college as long as you can. Your major classes should be challenging, because that’s how you learn and grow, but they shouldn’t make you miserable all the time. Look for that balance.  

Also, get involved in one or two organizations on campus. It might sounds cliché, but when I think of my best college experiences, most of them involve my extracurricular activities. I was an RA, and I was also involved in the Volunteering and Service-Learning Office at school. Through those things, I was able to discover that I have a passion for working with college students and doing nonprofit work. It was also how I found my first post-college job.  

TL;DR: Take this decision seriously, but don’t let it ruin you. Do some research and follow your instincts. There's no right or wrong answer. You'll be fine.