• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » How Taking A Class Outside My Major Helped Me Find Myself
Academics Freshmen

How Taking A Class Outside My Major Helped Me Find Myself

Facebook Tweet
Faith Allen   December 12, 2018

I know it sounds a bit cliché, but the truest thing I’ve learned since being in college is you must explore to find your passion. College is humbly deemed the greatest years of your life. You grow immensely into the person you were always meant to be. The skills you learn here will come in handy when you start Grad school or join the workforce. There are miles and miles of growth that I have already gained and miles more to come as I finish my degree. I feel like the most common advice adults give the younger generation heading off to college is, “Take a couple classes out of your major to see if there’s something else you would really like to do.” This offers you the chance to learn about a field or study you, previously, would have never learned anything about.

Just this happened to me and I can say it was most definitely the greatest gift I could have received.

I was on track to get a Bachelor of Criminology at the University of Florida. Before I left for college my mom told me to begin my college career and keep doors open to unlock the career path I would love. I always expressed interest and curiosity about crime television the excitement that stems from police work. It sounded fun to fight crime, but I most certainly had my doubts. I tried to think of other occupations that I thought better fit my personality. Taking career tests made me only more confused. Career aptitude tests wonderfully get you on a track you will enjoy but there nothing can compete with the hands-on opportunities you get from being in a class of a particular subject.

College offers a unique opportunity to explore many areas of study before you settle.

Books
pxhere.com

As I traveled through the semester, one particular class stuck out to me immensely. I loved my Media and Society class. I realized that when I was researching, listening to lectures and studying for exams, it didn’t feel like work. It felt like the training and practice I needed for a career that would make my everyday life feel rewarding. I was enthralled in the information and only wanted to learn more. In contrast, I had other classes on my schedule that were arduous and frustrating. I found out that I truly have a passion for writing and a love for the distribution of information. By joining the Journalism college, I find myself surrounded by people who think like me and appreciate the same things I do.

I’ve been given the opportunity to have intelligent conversations about the issues surrounding telecommunications and news.

Many people worry about wasting their valuable time in college. Once they are on a track, they are worried about straying from that track because it can cost them money and time. But, the largest waste, is a degree in something you don’t love. Taking classes out of your major area can actually provide dual benefits. They can show you a new area of study you never know you loved, or they can show you that you are indeed in the area of study that best fits you as a person. My life plan completely turned upside down in all the best ways when I arrived at the university. Change your perspective daily to make sure you are on the path to happiness for yourself. Success will only come to you when you are happy. College has taught me to explore because there is so much you can learn about yourself and what your true passions are by trying new things.

About Faith Allen

Seeker of radical truth, cotton candy connoisseur, and John Mulaney enthusiast; I am a sophomore at the University of Florida, studying Telecommunications News Reporting.

What I Wish I Had Known About Mental Health So I Wouldn’t Have to Call Myself a College Dropout

Was There a Purpose for That Roommate Questionnaire?

How My Dream College Became My Worst Nightmare

Expectations Vs Reality at UF

pixabay.com

Curtailed Curfews: How to Adjust to the Freedom of College

5 Tips to Get Through Your Freshman Year of College

Surviving Freshman Year by Joining the Strangest Sports Club: Quidditch

Letter to My Finals-Week Self

My Biggest Mistake: Not Checking My Email

Previous Post:21 Family Gift Ideas Better Than Matching PJs
Next Post:6 Essential Interpersonal Skills to Develop Before You Begin Your Career

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding