It was a typical night for the Moure family the night I received my acceptance into the University of Florida. We sat in one of our favorite restaurants, Dunkin Donuts, chatting over some fine iced coffees and vanilla kremes, trying to ignore the idea that admission decisions were lurking. Both patiently waited for the time to roll around.
Finally, I used my phone’s web browser to access the site that gave me the good news. My parents stood up and hugged me, laughing from excitement, all in the middle of a Dunkin Donuts on a weekday night with four other customers and the employees watching. I loved it.
I started as Digital Arts and Sciences major. I almost changed to Mechanical Engineering, but decided I’d “start in Art” like I was advised in order to avoid portfolio submissions and declared Graphic Design. Then I went into Advertising. I thought about doubling with Advertising and Graphic Design, but I dropped both and went to Telecommunication. I was about to double in Digital Arts and Sciences and Telecommunication but I went back to Advertising. Marketing was an option but I never jumped into it. As of right now, I am an Advertising student. I plan on still adding to that, whether in minors, certificates or with my required concentration (and this is where I catch my breath).
And why do you care about that indecisive laundry list? You most likely don’t and I don’t blame you.
But that list right there is a prime example of the indecisiveness and difficulty I and other students face when trying to decide what they want to major in. Why do I need to choose favorites? Why can’t I like many things and study many things and not have to get a degree that mainly represents having studied one thing?
The answer: that’s the system. And when you can’t beat them, you join them. Choose that one thing that tickles your pickle and go for it. Major doesn’t necessarily equal career, so spend your time learning about something that engages you and complements your interests.
You’ve probably heard the spiel before, but it’s an important one that I witness so many forget.
