For some, changing majors provides fresh start, less stress
Upon entering college, students are faced with huge decisions that could have a major impact on their futures. One of these decisions is picking an academic major.
For some students, choosing a major was set long before they arrived at Waynesburg; for most students, however, picking a major takes a few tries to get it right.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 80 percent of students change their major at least once, and most will change majors at least three times before they graduate college.
Juniors Makayla Vidosh and Nicole Zimmel became a part of this statistic during this academic year.
Vidosh and Zimmel were both criminal justice majors until the end of their sophomore years and then switched to education for the start of their junior years.
“I really enjoyed the criminal justice department, but after some time I realized I couldn’t actually see myself in the criminal justice field,” said Zimmel. “I feel I am too nice and not aggressive enough to make it.”
For Vidosh, switching to a new major still allowed her to pursue a passion of working with kids.
“I wanted to originally become a juvenile probation officer,” said Vidosh. “My goal to work with kids is the same, but now I can work with them before they would get into trouble. Hopefully, I’ll still be able to make an impact this way.”
Vidosh and Zimmel, who have been friends since freshman year, both felt the need to change, but neither of them discussed it much with the other.
“We both made the decision to change majors over the summer,” said Zimmel. “It was a surprise to both of us to learn that we were making the change together.”
Though Zimmel and Vidosh are making this transition together, they are not exactly on the same career path.
A challenge to changing majors is the risk of being behind on credits, causing a student to graduate later than expected.
For Vidosh, taking summer classes allowed her to be on track to graduate next spring.
“Luckily, I was able to complete courses over the summer that allowed me to be considered a junior in the department,” said Vidosh. “My decision to also only focus on early childhood helped to limit the amount of courses I need to take before graduation.”
In Zimmel’s case, she is only considered a sophomore in the department but still stands by her decision to switch.
“I’ll be here an extra year because I’m doing early childhood and also special education, which causes me to have to take a lot more classes,” said Zimmel. “I don’t mind though, because I am in a major that I love. I’m sure it will all be worth it.”
Vidosh and Zimmel agree that there were positives and negatives to each major, but they both claim to find their new major as a better fit to their true passions and future aspirations in life.
“I love my decision to change majors,” said Zimmel. “I love being in the field and getting to interact with the kids. Seeing what I learn in the college classroom being applied in my field experience is very rewarding.”
Vidosh agrees that the field work and interacting with the kids is definitely her favorite part.
“It doesn’t feel like a chore anymore,” said Vidosh. “My field placement is the best part of my week. I get to look forward to the students looking forward to seeing me every week.
Though changing majors can cause a lot of extra work and maybe even an extra year of school, it could all be worth it, according to Vidosh.
“I know that now I am in the right major because I no longer dread thinking of the future,” said Vidosh. “I am looking forward to making a difference in the lives of kids in my own classroom one day.”