College and Self-discovery

When I decided to attend college for the first semester, I had no clue what to major in. There are far too many paths to go down, too many careers possible to pursue, and only so long to figure it all out. I switched my major a few times, not to mention, I transferred to 5 different colleges in total. Taking general education classes in various areas of study helped me realize what I am really interested in. Going through undergraduate school was a journey of self-discovery.

It all began with nutrition. I was at a phase in my life where I was extremely motivated to learn all about healthy eating habits. I wanted to become a dietician and help other people develop healthy eating plans as well. During this phase, however, I was unhappy living where I was and wanted to move. I transferred colleges and switched my focus from nutrition to physical fitness. I decided to major in Kinesiology, the study of human movement.

A career in exercise and physical activity became my primary idea at this point in my life. It was nothing new. I was always into physical activity, especially dancing and more free moving types of activities. I remember taking a yoga class in the first semester of my Kinesiology program. I always thought it was just a religious practice involving various poses and meditative techniques. We practiced Hatha yoga, which emphasized the asanas. I grew to really enjoy it, especially the elevated moods that would come over me after each class session.

I didn’t stay at the second college very long. After one semester I returned to my previous home. I began commuting by bus to another college with the intention to continue on with my kinesiology program. I remember early morning sunrises on the way and late evening sunsets on the route home. I would stare out the window wondering what I was doing all this for… would it really worth it one day… all this time and effort?

I transferred again after a few semesters. The next college was in my original hometown and this is when the most significant alterations in my thought process occurred. My dreams, desires, emotions, plans, interests, and fears were all colliding. My life was a disaster and I was clearly needed to go a different route.

I took a few psychology classes for my general education requirements. It started with child development and personality theories. I was fascinated with the way the brain develops and functions. I realized that health didn’t apply only to the body. There is the mind… and the mind has a significant influence on overall health as well. The concept of mind-body practices struck me one summer night. What I cared about was more than I could process at that moment, but I knew the starting point.

The next major on my list was Psychology. The final program of commitment that I knew was the right direction to go for so many reasons. First, I needed to really figure out how the brain worked. Second, I was going to fix my own mind. Third, I was going to share everything I knew with whoever else wanted to find the answers to life.

I graduated with my Associate of Arts degree in Psychology and transferred to my current university to proceed toward my Bachelor of Arts degree. The time flew by and I reached the end of my program. I planned to find some kind of entry-level employment opportunities soon. This is supposed to be the time I start my career, yet here we are in the midst of the 2020 pandemic. Will this virus issue be resolved by the time I graduate?

So here I am questioning the world and my personal future, and just how everything is supposed to fall into place. Qualifications… certifications… a license for this… a license for that. The world requires so much, which all has some cost. Money, money, money… It is always the main concern. Can I ever afford all this?

No matter how far I get or how sure my mind is that I know exactly what I want in life, alterations occur again. I have come so far in my educational journey. My kids were just babies when I began, and I was a high school dropout with no evidence of worthiness or skills to be successful in life. All I know for sure is that I want a career that will make me happy and feel like my work is valued.

If there is one thing so significant about my entire college experience that is worth remembering forever… It was my progress of self-discovery. I learned more about myself than I ever knew. Now I know what my true interests are and what majors and career paths I really feel passionate about. I have come to understand myself and my personality better now. I know who I am as a person. My current goal is to find my place in the workforce of my community.