I’m Lauren Wetterau, a current freshman and a member of the fall 2020 pledge class. Right now, I’m double majoring in Communication and Management. When I was in high school, those majors just seemed to be the logical choices given my long experience with yearbook and my interest in being a leader. I had ideas of careers I might be interested in, but whenever I was asked the question “What do you want to do with those degrees?” I had no idea what to say.
First semester of college, I tried really hard to get a clearer picture of what I wanted to do with my life. Some college students know exactly what they want to do. That’s awesome. I, however, did not. And that was such a weird concept to me. Our whole lives are structured for us until we graduate high school, and then suddenly it’s our turn to decide what comes next.
It took me a long time to understand that uncertainty is okay. Now, I’m starting to embrace it. College is a time for us to explore our options and discover where our passions could take us. For me, I realized that while management-related things interest me, I have a bigger heart for animals and sustainability-related topics. This is something I’ve always known but never even considered for a career. In the fall, I plan to switch my Management major to a Wildlife major.
I never would’ve anticipated this change a year ago. I am not a science person at all, and the required courses for my new major are very science heavy. Am I nervous? Heck yes. But am I also so excited at the idea of where this new path could take me? 1,000% I am.
But how did I make that decision? Here are a few general pieces of advice I have for people who are trying to figure out their path:
Write down everything you’re passionate about or interested in. Literally everything. You’d be surprised what similarities you might find, or abstract ways you could connect various ideas that you hadn’t considered before. Seeing it on paper can help you visualize everything.
Surround yourself with people who let you be authentic. This one may seem irrelevant, but think about it: would you be able to be totally honest with yourself about your passions if you’re surrounded by people you aren’t yourself with? The answer is probably no. If you’re too busy being someone you’re not, it’ll be much harder to realize that career paths fit best for you. I am really blessed to have found Kappa Delta. It’s a place that allows and encourages me to be my true self, which allows me to accept me for who I am. My sisters boost my confidence and remind me that I am valued and loved.
Talk to your advisor. Advisors don’t always have all the answers you may be looking for, but it is their job to help you along your college journey and they’ll probably be able to put you in touch with other faculty who could answer your questions.
Join clubs that interest you. Don’t overwhelm yourself by joining everything, but don’t be shy when it comes to exploring your options. You never know where it could lead you!
Obviously figuring out what you want to do with your life is intimidating. Whether you’re changing your major or deciding a major for the very first time, it’s a scary process that you shouldn’t take lightly. But you don’t have to have it all figured out. Embrace the uncertainty; you never know where it might take you.
AOT,
Lauren
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