Declaring my major...

[maro_chik]

I dunno what it is... I'm scared of commitment. I know what I want to major in (French), and I know I want to be a high school teacher, and I'm willing to put in all the effort it takes. But once I commit, I feel like there's no turning back, even if it turns out not to be right for me. If it does turn out to be wrong, it will have felt like a huge waste. I can't picture myself doing anything else besides teaching; that's another thing that frightens me. If teaching isn't right for me... Then what is?

Has anyone else felt this reluctant?

 

[Mr. BAW]

Sometimes a career path is very hard to follow...just consider the obvious, we all need a little babble in our brook to make it interesting..


PS - I, too, like Coldplay,White Stripes. Chili Peppers and Daniel Lanois...got Daniel's autograph on a Joshua Tree album cover;
my claim to fame!

 

[~LadyLemon~]

I changed my major three times

 

[martha]

I had a double major. English Lit and Asian Studies. My language was Sanskrit. How's that for limiting and useless? But I loved every minute of it!

No college education is ever wasted, no matter what you study. You still learn, and you still grow. I know a radio/tv major who works for an oil company supply company and makes big-ass bucks. He never uses his major. I know an instrumental music major (brass) who is a buyer for an aerospace company.

If you start teaching, and you hate it, so what? You'll still have a valuable education, and you'll be fluent in an important language.

I think it's insane that we ask kids to decide on majors and life courses when they're all of 18 or 19 years old.

 

[ILuvLarryMullen]

don't worry most people change their majors

I switched from Biology to Psychology to Sociology and am still going to graduate on time. Don't be scared to change your mind down the road, it's never too late.

 

[Bonochick]

When I was 5 years old, I picked my major and the university I wanted to attend. When I was 18, I began to follow that path. During the first semester, I decided to change major and transfer to a different school.

So...don't worry too much about deciding on one!

 

[AvsGirl41]

I've agonized over what I picked...history and English Literature.
And I just declared a second minor in journalism this week.

Just remember it *is* easy to change and it's never, ever wasted time. Alot of people change their majors and minors a few times. And almost no one in my circle has graduated on time--do not stress about finishing in four years. (It's only scary if you get to 6 or 7...)

Knowledge is never wasted, the stuff you learn always comes in handy someplace else. You end up where you're supposed too.

 

[Mullen-Girl]

Yeah I'm going to change my major when I go back to school in the fall. I majored in International Business but I realized that I don't like business LOL so now i'm going to major in Education, minor in either spanish or french cos I want to be a language teacher

 

[Laura M]

I am doing a joint honours in French and Spanish I thought this was the best as I want to be a language teacher when I finish my degree, sometimes I wonder if I am doing the right course as sometimes I feel a bit lost and the work can be hard, but I enjoy it and I really do feel that languages were the best thing for me to do. If after doing my PGCE when I finish my degree (one year course that qualifies you to be a teacher) then I can always do something else like translating/ interpreting, there are many job opportunites for a language graduate (they are the 3rd most sought after degree after medicine and law, well in Britain anyway) and I am determined I will try different jobs if one I get does not suit me.

 

[~LadyLemon~]

I was an English Lit major with a minor in Popular Culture...again, mainly useless but lots of fun!

 

[verte76]

I changed my major three times. I ended up with a degree I don't use for my job (history) but it's very useful to know this stuff in day to day life.

 

[maro_chik]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

I guess I will eventually find what's right for me, even if it does take a few changes. I do feel like I'm making the right choice though, I just have these lingering doubts. Hopefully they'll fade once I get more comfortable with the language and everything. I'm hoping to travel to Quebec next year to improve my skills - not to mention my terrible French accent.

At the pace I'm planning to go at, it'll take me 3 more years to do my French major/Canadian History minor, and then 2 more to get my education degree. 5 years shouldn't be too bad.

PS. Popular Culture... That sounds like fun!

 

[anitram]

I think the most important thing I've learned is that university isn't about filling your head with a bunch of useless knowledge (although that does happen). It's not about even becoming a specialist in a field necessarily, but it's about acquiring critical thinking skills and picking up academic jargon which you can't do on the street.

I debated long and hard, and it was even scarier because I decided to get a specialist degree, which means I had no space at all for any elective courses apart from a couple to fulfill breadth requirements. So in that sense, if I went wrong, I went wrong completely. You want to do a combination of degrees and that's good, you'll surely find something you like.

Good luck!

 

[CampbellMSU]

i'm on my third major, and yeah, i find myself to be very reluctant. sometimes, when i purchase some tasty coors, i will realize i want strohs instead, or maybe some high life or oldstyle. now that is reluctance.

i've learned not to worry about that, you'll find something and get out of there with your head on semi-straight. i think i will.

 

[Liesje]

hey there! I'm not finished with my second year and I've gone from General Sciences > Computer Science > Information Systems > Digital Communications > Business > Business Communications

 

[Laura M]

not to mention my terrible French accent.

I speak French with a Belfast accent, or a country accent because apparently I sound like a country girl, anyway last night I met 2 french boys and held a conversation with them in French for 30 minutes, they said my French was very good and they understood me, this gave me a bit of confidence, even 2 boys at the bar were impressed , in most palces people can speak more than one language, here sadly it is very rare.

I think if you could try and meet some French ppl where you live it would be helpful if you spoke to them I find it useful. It has helped me a lot.

I also watch the French news and listen to French radio or watch french movies in the hope it will improve my skills a bit, dont think it has worked though

 

[forbonou2]

Reluctent?? It only took me 4 years to figure out what I want to major in in college! my Dream..to own my own B&B! I finally found a major that fits that..Culinary management A.S.. Only going to take 3 years..but, hey it's an adventure. So look at it this way..the road to the future might have a been in it..but school is a good place to find out What you want to do.. you could discover something..else. Look at all the people that went into acting..it was NOT their major most of them! So go for it!! Good Luck..!