I know it sounds a bit cliché, but the truest thing I’ve learned since being in college is you must explore to find your passion. College is humbly deemed the greatest years of your life. You grow immensely into the person you were always meant to be. The skills you learn here will come in handy when you start Grad school or join the workforce. There are miles and miles of growth that I have already gained and miles more to come as I finish my degree. I feel like the most common advice adults give the younger generation heading off to college is, “Take a couple classes out of your major to see if there’s something else you would really like to do.” This offers you the chance to learn about a field or study you, previously, would have never learned anything about.
Just this happened to me and I can say it was most definitely the greatest gift I could have received.
I was on track to get a Bachelor of Criminology at the University of Florida. Before I left for college my mom told me to begin my college career and keep doors open to unlock the career path I would love. I always expressed interest and curiosity about crime television the excitement that stems from police work. It sounded fun to fight crime, but I most certainly had my doubts. I tried to think of other occupations that I thought better fit my personality. Taking career tests made me only more confused. Career aptitude tests wonderfully get you on a track you will enjoy but there nothing can compete with the hands-on opportunities you get from being in a class of a particular subject.
College offers a unique opportunity to explore many areas of study before you settle.
As I traveled through the semester, one particular class stuck out to me immensely. I loved my Media and Society class. I realized that when I was researching, listening to lectures and studying for exams, it didn’t feel like work. It felt like the training and practice I needed for a career that would make my everyday life feel rewarding. I was enthralled in the information and only wanted to learn more. In contrast, I had other classes on my schedule that were arduous and frustrating. I found out that I truly have a passion for writing and a love for the distribution of information. By joining the Journalism college, I find myself surrounded by people who think like me and appreciate the same things I do.
I’ve been given the opportunity to have intelligent conversations about the issues surrounding telecommunications and news.
Many people worry about wasting their valuable time in college. Once they are on a track, they are worried about straying from that track because it can cost them money and time. But, the largest waste, is a degree in something you don’t love. Taking classes out of your major area can actually provide dual benefits. They can show you a new area of study you never know you loved, or they can show you that you are indeed in the area of study that best fits you as a person. My life plan completely turned upside down in all the best ways when I arrived at the university. Change your perspective daily to make sure you are on the path to happiness for yourself. Success will only come to you when you are happy. College has taught me to explore because there is so much you can learn about yourself and what your true passions are by trying new things.
