a BA in who-knows-what

Happy Friday! Let’s talk about the fear and uncertainty surrounding, dun dun dunnn.. College ! 

This word can bring about so many different emotions for so many people. For some it is unfamiliar, for others it is overwhelming, scary, it can mean freedom, a new beginning, financial burdens, uncharted territory, and many other realms. The choice of a college is something that most high school seniors deal with or entertain. It can be daunting, but it is a path out to the ~real~ world for many. 

For me, I had many fears encompassing college, but one was how do I know what direction will be right for me? I thought I wanted to do something involved in the medical field, but I was also interested in photography, and global affairs intrigued me, but wait, then my humanitarian side of me was awakened and wanted attention and growth. I felt as though this decision of a college major and field of study was the end all be all. The truth is, it really does not matter as much as people think. One can jump, hop, and skip around until they land somewhere they like. Some graduate in a completely different field than where they end up working, others entertain multiple interests by having a minor or by double majoring. 

My point is, there are options. 

I was always the type of person growing up that said yes to everything. My parents told me that I always had too much on my plate and that because of this I could not focus on one aspect really well. This is what I feared going into college, but realized quickly that your undergrad years are the time to explore. Experiment! Take that class in ceramics that you have always wanted to take. Minor in something completely different than your major. Join all the clubs you can. My involvement on and off campus helped to take the pressure off of the choice of a major and career path. Despite my dedication to the sciences and my pre-med undergrad degree, I still pursued all of my many other interests. 

I had the pleasure of going to Orange High School and meeting with AVID senior students who were considering furthering their education. This was such a fulfilling experience and I am already looking forward to our next meeting time. I met with three boys who were seniors and all had passions that will carry them into a successful undergrad degree if they so wish to take that step. Surprisingly, they were all interested in computer science of sorts, involving gaming, coding, and data analysis. I think their concerns were similar to mine at the time in that they really liked many different things and were not sure how to hoan in on one aspect. It was nice to talk about all of the opportunities that a university can give you so you never have to miss out on learning and expanding your mind and skills.