When it comes to deciding whether or not to pick up a minor or even double major, don’t be like me during my freshman year. I was approached at the end of my first semester by a professor of mine. He told me I should consider picking up a major in English based on my interest in writing and reading as well as my skills. I considered it for all but a day before deciding not to double major. At 19 years old, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to be doing. My dream job could only be found through my major in Communication. Plus, I didn’t want to put twice as much time into college.
Now, mind you, I had been a straight-A student practically from the day I entered school. By college, I was ready for a break and really just wanted things to come easy for me. Fortunately, that mindset was shaken from my mind a few months later.
Fast-forward a few weeks before starting my sophomore year. I had only what I can describe as a mid-college-crisis where I questioned my major, my dream job, and me as a whole. I decided, with the help of those close to me, to give Communication another semester, if not a year. Only a few weeks into the fall semester my crisis ended thanks to my journalism class. I remembered how much I absolutely love and, being a little soapbox-y, how good I am at writing. It was then I decided to fully abandon my dream for years of being an advertiser and follow my passion for writing.
Long story short, I picked up a minor in Creative Writing the following semester. My junior and senior year I actually ended up with almost all English/writing classes and almost no communication classes, which is a bit counterintuitive to my original plan for what I wanted to study. And, to go even further, I want to kick myself almost every day because my new dream job, the dream job I’ve secretly wanted since I was seven years old, now falls under the educational category of my minor.
If I listened to my professor my freshman year, I would have realized earlier on who I wanted to be as an adult. If I listened to my professor, sure it would’ve been more work, but it would have been work I love doing.
My advice to anyone wondering whether or not to pick up a second major or a minor is to try it. Take a class or two in that field and see whether or not you like it. Most importantly, see if it’s something you can see yourself doing as a career. Just because you’re a Psychology major doesn’t mean you can’t have a double major or minor in Graphic Design. Just because you have a French major doesn’t mean you can’t also study Criminology. You’re allowed to have multiple interests. Allow these four years of college to fully explore your education. And please, never limit or doubt your abilities. You might find yourself years later, like me, regretting the decision(s) you made freshman and even sophomore year.