College is the time where everyone feels like they should know exactly what they want to do, and have a plan that will tell them exactly how to get there.
It should not have to be that way. Through our college years, we grow up, learn more and encounter new experiences that change our notions about the world. Not knowing where you want to take yourself in the future is not a cause to freak out and it is definitely not the end of the world.
In the two years that I have attended CSULB I have changed my major and added a minor, and I am still not completely convinced that being a business major is right for me. But I’m not worried at all because I know that as long as I apply myself and make the right connections I will end up where I need to be.
The great thing about our campus is that there are tons of resources to help you. Plenty of advisors would be more than willing to schedule an appointment with you and talk about the options you have, or if the major you are considering is right for you.
There are also clubs you can join that will help you get a taste of the careers a certain major has to offer. Even your friends who miraculously have some idea of what they want to be later in life can give you some advice or speak to you about their major.
After my friend found out she wouldn’t be able to make it into the business major, she asked around and found out about the University Center for Undergraduate Advising located in our very own Horn Center. They take walk-ins and appointments and are extremely understanding and helpful.
My friend described her experience and told me that they asked questions about her interests and extracurricular activities to really try and help her fit into a major that would eventually lead to a career she would enjoy. They also told her that balance is important, which I believe is the key to succeeding in college.
Many students take on the maximum number of units while also trying to balance jobs and it rarely ever turns out in something other than you being a tired mess.
Thus, instead of taking on a gigantic workload, take on the number of units you feel you can do your best in while also getting your job done correctly. And if you don’t have a job, enjoy your social life and extracurricular activities to the fullest. I know way too many people who complain about being drained and tired all the time. We are too young to be as tired as we claim to be.
At the end of the day, don’t freak out if you haven’t the slightest clue what to do with your life. Ask around and explore. Your tuition is used to pay for the resources on campus so use them to your advantage. And never take more than you can handle because the outcome won’t be what you expected.
Rebecca Ruiz is a senior business major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er.
