Fall in Love with Your Perfect Major

What do you enjoy in life?

My freshman year of college was the best. A new environment, new people, new activities, and a sense of freedom. Choosing to be a Communication major was easy because of one simple thing: I love exchanging information, and I believe that effective communication can make pretty much every aspect of life easier. You can learn to understand issues and find solutions to many problems in society, media, law, business, you name it. It’s a major that can be applied to any field, and that’s what’s so great about it! It’s perfect for me, and I’ve taken so many interesting classes and applied them to real life situations. 

Doubt does not equate to failure.

Let’s be honest. I had doubts about my major in the beginning too. Personally, I find many types of studies interesting because I believe there’s so much to learn (nerd, much?). Halfway through my freshman year, I thought I wanted to major in psychology. Before I made that decision, I took an intro class just to get a feel for it. While the information was interesting, it did not feel right for me. My sophomore year, I thought about minoring in sociology. Again, I took an intro level course, and decided that I can do without the minor. I realized I could still take sociology courses if I wanted or I could learn about it outside of class. Finally, I decided to declare a concentration after I realized that it catered to my interests, and I’m more than happy with my decision. 

Pace yourself.

Some people immediately know what field they want to choose. Other people, not so much. If you are unsure, there’s no shame in that. You’re coming from high school, where you learn many different things that may interest you, and you’re told that you can only pick one. Follow your heart. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. You’re going to spend four years in college, and many years in your career after you graduate. It’s only right that you do something you truly enjoy. It’s perfectly fine to enter college undecided about your major. U of I has plenty of resources available for everyone. Take various classes that catch your eye, join the many RSOs available here at Illinois, and let it come naturally. It’s important to note that you do not have to plan everything because the future is bound to change occasionally. Take your time and explore. I mean, that’s what college is all about, right?