“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question that I have been asked an innumerable amount of times over the years, and I never liked it. It brought with it a set of expectations that I felt I could not live up to. Well, as a 20-year-old in college majoring in Communication, I can safely say that I do not have an exact idea of what I want to do when I graduate, and that is okay. While this piece will be primarily aimed at the freshmen here at Waynesburg University, it will still contain information that could potentially be helpful to upperclassmen. Here is why I think that not knowing what you want to be just yet is completely fine.

I can safely say that I do not have an exact idea of what I want to do when I graduate, and that is okay.

First of all, while planning is a valuable skill, there is such a thing as doing it too early. When I was in eighth grade, I knew for a fact that I wanted to be a chemist working with elements that graduated from Yale University, and nothing was going to change my mind. A year later in high school, I tookchemistry and hated it. I limited my options, and then when it did not work out, I had to start over from scratch. Keep your options open and do not be pressured into committing to a long term plan if you are not sure about it. If you do make a plan, do not be afraid to deviate from it either.

Second, speaking of long term plans, picking a major is not something you have to do right away, nor do I think you should do in most cases. Majors are big commitments, and if you choose one too quickly, it could end up backfiring. A lot of classes in a specific major will not count for other ones, so having to switch majors can be a pain. I went into college undecided, so I was able to explore a few majors without having to commit to any of them until I was ready. There is no shame in taking a semester to make a definite decision that will impact the rest of your academic career.

Be sure to take every opportunity presented to you because it could lead to something really unique and special. College is brimming with opportunities, so take them while you can.

Finally, be sure to take every opportunity presented to you because it could lead to something really unique and special. College is brimming with opportunities, so take them while you can. Indulging in different opportunities may help you discover where you want to end up later in life. For example, this year I accepted an opportunity to become a student senator here at Waynesburg even though my schedule is quite busy. I have only been participating for a couple weeks now, but I have come to enjoy it immensely. I seriously doubt that I will get a job in government right out of college, but since I seized that opportunity, now I know that it could eventually be an option for me.

All of this is to say that you do not have to have everything figured out from the moment you step foot on campus. The ideal reality is that everyone would know exactly what they wanted to do immediately, but that is obviously not the case. Take your time, listen to what your heart is telling you, and most importantly, find what makes you happy and hold onto it.