To change my major or not change my major, that is the question

I entered school in fall 2012 as a health studies major on the pre-med track with a minor in psychology. By the time I ended my freshman year in spring 2013, I was a communication major with psychology and Spanish minors. My freshman year involved a lot of self-discovery and new experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything. After carefully thinking about my interests and what I'm truly passionate about, I realized the communication world was much more suitable for my personality and aspirations than the world of medicine.

I've been a host on PSU television for a year now, learning the "ins and outs" of television news production. I've gained on-camera experience that will benefit my potential future career in the broadcast industry and have made connections with professionals in the field. This summer I will be an intern with a non-profit, working on community outreach and public relations at concerts in the park. This internship will open up a wide variety of opportunities for me as a professional in the future. I've recently traded psychology and spanish for a film studies minor.

I don't mean to bore readers with my life story- I promise I have a point to all of this. If you've been considering changing your major but are apprehensive about it, I highly recommend meeting with a career adviser about a potential major change. By discussing your interests and the careers you may be interested in, the adviser can help narrow your interests into a specific major, a major you might not even know exists at your university.

I've known multiple people that are afraid to leave the area of study they've originally chosen for a variety of reasons. But they absolutely hate what they're doing. If you're already miserable studying that topic, how do you expect to work in that industry the rest of your life? While changing your major may lead you to be in school longer than expected, you won't have to go back later and get a second degree in what you actually enjoy after getting a useless degree in something you don't enjoy at all.

Ever since changing my major last spring, I've been much happier in my classes, I've had many opportunities present themselves to me, I've seen an increase in my GPA, and I've received a lot of support in my decision. If you're even slightly unhappy with your major (or minor), I challenge you to just look and see what else is out there. You never know what other areas of study might interest you and cultivate your skills.