TeenFeels: A Blurry Future, Scenario 2

Scenario 2: I have a pretty good idea about what I want to do, but I'm still wavering between a handful of choices. I don't think I'm passionate enough in anything to really go to college for it.

Congratulations on graduating from Scenario 1! You have now earned yourself a IPS1 degree - an "I Passed Scenario 1" degree. Smile!

Now then, onwards and upwards we go. On to the next milestone, on to Scenario 2.

So now you know what you like doing, even what you're passionate about. And yet, no university major really appeals to you. 

I don't have to remind you that there are thousands of majors out there and you should browse it - personally, it didn't work out that way for me, but maybe it'll work for you. I had a handful of choices, and those are basically the few that I dig deeper into. I didn't bother looking at other majors; my brain automatically shoves them far away. 

If I can't tell you how to know what major you want to choose, at least I can advice you on how to know what major you don't want to choose. I was stubborn enough to cling on to a major I had no interest in for a time period that was almost too long, but thank God I realized it's really not for me. Now that I look back at that major, I don't even know how I had wanted it in the first place. 

But, this blog post is all about you. You can read my story here. Anyway, so how can you figure out if a major, or a job, isn't for you?

1. Browse for universities and look at their entry requirements.

• Especially for architecture and majors that require artsy skills, you need a portfolio to showcase your art skills through different medias and whatnot. Here's a huge tip: if you don't like to draw, don't go into architecture. Oh wait, I'm talking about me again.
• If the entry requirements become a burden to you, or if you're so unmotivated to work for the requirements, it's probably not for you.

2. Try and read about it.

• Most jobs look fun. Though if you really love something, whatever boring articles or books or facts about that job will appeal to you. Try reading a book about its theory or about its history. If you really love architecture, you'll read Architecture 101 and not just look at the pretty pictures. If you don't care enough to actually swallow the words, don't even bother going into that major.

3. Look back and see if you've been enjoying the subjects related to it.

• If you want to be a pianist but can't stand five hours of piano practice, then think again.
• If you want to be an archaeologist but can't stand that what's-his-face history teacher's lecture, then think again.

4. Imagine the work environment and actually spending hours and hours and hours of your life doing it.

• Say you want to be a civil engineer. You will be exposed to the sun a lot. If you don't like to sweat and can't think in the heat, or don't like talking to people, or hate the thought that you have to follow someone's plan instead of drilling on your creative juices and creating something of your own, then civil engineering isn't for you. However, if you like to bring people's imagination to life and combine the forces of engineering and maths to create something huge like a skyscraper you would be proud to call yours, then yes, civil engineering would suit you well. (Am I drawing from experience again? Well...)

5. Don't cling on to what you believe is best.

• In other words, just because you think a major is probably the one for you, don't shut yourself out of the possibilities. You might wake up one day and realize after four years of research you hate that major so much you don't know why you had wanted it. Then you realize you don't know what to do in your life and you're back to Scenario 1.
• But that's okay. Link is right here.
• For real though. You still have time to change your mind. Don't worry about changing and having to repeat the whole research process again. As the saying goes, if you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it comes back and you want to punch it in the face, it'd be best for you and your major to go separate ways.

Now that you've narrowed down your choices, you have a few left. Maybe one of the ones left is your destined perfect major. Maybe none of them is. Here's the thing that I've learned: there can't possibly be only one specific major that suits a job (Unless you want to be a doctor. That'll be pretty dang specific.). Countless people have jobs that have nothing to do with their university major, and they still excel their careers, Sometimes their jobs and majors are so far off it'd be considered better for them to save money and not go to university in the first place.

Here's the thing though: going to university helps you think. Even if you might end up with a job completely irrelevant to your major, there are still things you can learn from it because no knowledge goes to waste. Try to pick something that's rather flexible, but maybe you major in medicine but end up becoming a music teacher, hey, now you don't have to go to a doctor because you can prescribe yourself (true story of two of my piano teachers). Plus, getting a degree helps you develop your critical thinking skills. And you actually have a degree so you can actually have a job during your journey to realizing your passion.

So don't be afraid if you can't find the perfect major. No major is wrong for you. The only thing you have to absolutely make sure is that you like it just enough to get through with the four year program without waking up everyday and thinking you're in perpetual purgatory. Your major doesn't have to be your ultimate passion. And besides, you're allowed to like more than one thing, right?

Specially for universities in countries like the US or Canada, you have an extra year or so, or your freshman year, that you will spend on taking general classes, so you don't have to make up your mind before then. Even after choosing, you can transfer majors. True, it isn't like this in the UK or Singapore or most Asian universities, where you study a specific major from the start of your study. Then again, there are no wrong majors.

So pick a major you like enough to study for 4 years or so without regretting it. Your major doesn't decide your fate, after all. You do.

Now that you're done, we're getting closer to the final zone -- on to Scenario 3!

Found this post helpful? Share to your friends and leave a comment! What majors are you interested in? Have you found your ultimate passion? Have people you know whose jobs are a world away from their chosen major? Share in the comments below!

-ayeletsgo©2015