Your first two years at any higher education is a time to narrow down your interests to potentially choose a major. Choosing a major isn’t something we should rush or allow outside sources to dictate. This decision is based on our individuality. “What sparks our interest? Where can we express ourselves creatively? Where do we see ourselves in ten years?” These are the questions that allow us to fix in on what we will pursue as careers. The wrong questions I asked myself were “What makes the most money? What are my peers pursuing?” I was looking for a quick fix so that my time at a community college could be short and sweet. Without asking myself the nitty-gritty questions, I was squeezing myself into a fabricated box.

It’s important to realize that it usually takes two years to finish your general education. Instead of forcing yourself into a so-so major, you can use this time to take elective classes that appeal to your interests — also opting for ones you wouldn’t normally take. Doing this allowed me to find an area of interest and still knock out general education courses.

While Penn State reports that roughly 75 percent of college students will change their major by graduation, we are rejecting this statistic by exploring multiple avenues until we are confident enough to make the big decision. I know sharing with your peers that your have uncertainty about your major may seem like you are shouting that you are a morbid human being whose future is quite gloomy, but don’t let this hold you back from flying your hazy flag high. Although some students may have their future planned out from career to lampshades, how long did it take them to get there? Does anyone really know if they could be a part of that 75 percent who changed their major before graduating? Comparing only holds us back from our personal experience; we’ll get there.

By giving myself 4 semesters I was able to develop as a young adult, and expand interests that changed from 18 to 20. I now have a clearer view of my future and a gain of confidence within my studies. By giving up on fitting into a forged box, my future started to align itself. Removing the toxic pressure of “You don’t have a set major yet?” allowed me to start taking classes I enjoyed, not ones that counselors told me were ‘easy’ or suggested because most students take those. The course catalog allowed me to get glimpses of classes I never heard about. Why was the world hiding these intriguing courses? They weren’t, I just wasn’t using it as a tool. Voicing my newfound experiment with my counselor saved me from erratic studies.

Establishing an Ed Plan with a counselor is important to rule out aimless class taking, as well as sharing with them your uncertainty within the majors. A counselor can assign you to career workshops and give you resources to make your process as smooth as possible. While taking random courses as electives sheds light unto newfound interests, you can do so with a sturdy foundation.

The community college experience is meant to provide a leeway unto the next destination. This is a time to assess all the resources Los Medanos College has to offer. Don’t cheat yourself from finding your destiny. After all, your studies are meant to give you the tools for your career. Stay calm and unimpressionable.