Just like everyone else in college, I contemplated changing my major countless times. What do I REALLY want to do? How’s the job market? Will I be unemployed and live in my parent’s house forever?
It’s scary to make a decision at 18/19 and have it basically shape the rest of your life. While what you major in doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s definitively the career that you will pursue, but it does have an immediate impact on the near future and experience.
Before this year, the only path I’ve known is medicine. I spent all of high school and freshman year of college thinking that pre-med was the path, and that I will be grinding in the world of biology and chemistry and eventually apply to med school. Clinical shadowing, volunteer work, lab research, I’ve done it all. It seemed to me that switching paths meant that I’ve wasted all my years for nothing.
But I felt nothing but dread. It has always been the familial expectation that pushed me into this path. And it’s scary to change, doing what I’ve always been doing felt safe. Even though I wasn’t happy.
Do you want to be 25 and still living in your parent’s house because you won’t be able to find a job?”
“We just want you to be able to financially support yourself in the future.”
So I’ve been told.
Through years of a heavy load of STEM classes in my schedule, I’ve always insisted on taking at least one art class. It’s always been what I enjoyed doing since I was a kid.
You can do art as a hobby while making money doing your actual job.”
So I’ve been told.
It wasn’t until I actually sat down and did my research that I’ve found that the stereotype that was instilled into my head has been wrong the whole time. Majoring in Art doesn’t mean you will inevitably become a “starving artist”. There are so many options out there, creative director, UX designer, graphic designer, just to name a few.
So I made the change.
I started writing an email to my counselor, requesting to switch my major from Neuroscience to Comprehensive Design. As I click “send”, it felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.
And after that day, not much has changed, but so much has changed within me. My motivation came back because I was finally doing something that I chose for myself. For the first time, I was the one actively finding resources and opportunities that will advance my career.
From there I applied to become a web design intern here at Center of Excellence for Women & Technology. With the goal of becoming an UX designer in mind, it’s crucial for me to start building my resume and gain industry experience as early as possible.
Here at CEWIT, I learned so many things from my team members. From collaboration and communication skills to the more technical side like HTML and how to use a variety of design software. As a member of the web design team, I get to host workshops and a variety of other events that aim to help and empower others like me to gain experience and share ideas.
Even if you are not interested in a career that’s based in computer science, learning technological skills are still extremely beneficial in today’s competitive job market. In the future, it’s inevitable that technology will be implemented in almost every aspect of our lives.
I hope my story can inspire others like me to not be afraid to pursue their interest and not be discouraged by the outside voices. Even if our dreams seem far away, even if we can be unsure at times, it’s completely ok and we have enough time to figure it out.
This is so inspiring! I am glad that you were able to see value in art majors as well. I think people easily get caught up in having certain preconceptions about what is the right major, but I am glad you did not stick to traditionalism.