As many of you know or may not know, besides an avid Starbucks fan and B-52’s wannabe, I am the mostly happy owner of three German Short Haired Pointers, Bismarck, Greta and Hunter.GSP’s are high energy sporting dogs who love to run and need constant activity. And as much as they drive me crazy, they make me laugh with their comical antics. They motivate me (or force me) to exercise, try my patience and think I'm the greatest two-legged dog ever!
And, I must say, there is nothing better than being greeted by three over exuberant dogs….and yes, sometimes I come out of the greeting with a few bruises…but I am not complaining because the return totally outweighs the side effects.
Anyway, to make a long tail short, I have learned some valuable lessons from my dogs and guess what? You are now the lucky recipient of some of ‘these’ pointers.
Today’s Pointer: When Choosing Your Major Make Sure it is a Good Fit.
Do not force yourself to fit into a major that does not feel right to you. Don't end up feeling like poor Greta in her inadequately sized bed.
If it does not feel right, it may not be the major for you!
(BTW – the bed in the photo was chewed up shortly after this shot was taken; I do not recommend chewing up your books.)
How do you choose a major that is a good fit? Take your time when choosing your major. Choose a major based on YOUR likes, interests, and strengths. What excites you? What are you doing when you lose track of all time? What inspires or motivates you? What makes you happy?
DO NOT CHUCK that art major because your dad said, ‘what kind of job will you be able to get with that art degree?’
Do not confuse a major choice with a career choice. Whatever major you choose, it can prepare you for a number of different careers. For example, my friend Anita Job was an Literature major and just got her first job as an Account Manager with a local Fortune 500 company. (Obviously, there are exceptions – nursing, education, computer programmer, etc.)
Need help with deciding?
- Attend the College Majors and Transfer Fair on October 6th in the College Center. You may wander from table to table and talk to faculty and professionals who represent a variety of majors/fields - this is an excellent opportunity to gather information in one spot.
- Visit our Career Center for help with the decision making process: meet with counselors who can help you by offering services like: job shadowing; interest inventory tests; career counseling; resource materials; and much more! Take advantage of this free service while you are a student.
So, what’s the POINT? I bet many of you spend more time deciding on finding the right pair of jeans or car or mp3 player than thinking about your major or planning your career. So, the point is - instead of settling or guessing on a major –spend some time and find the right fit.
