Spring is here: a season that shines a jarring light on high school seniors who plan to continue their education in college. It is time for college commitments, where most students choose a major to prepare them for the rest of their lives. However, the expectation that students need to have their life plans figured out at the age of 18 is near impossible, inflicting stress and anxiety upon students. Between the outward pressure teenagers feel from their families, as well as the pressure they put on themselves, the college major decision is often the biggest stressor for high school seniors.
After spending the past 12 years in school, the realization you have to choose a career path hits very suddenly your senior year. Some people spend their whole lives working towards a certain career path; however, the majority of students have no idea what their next chapter looks like. The constant questioning from family and friends about one’s future only adds to the pressure of feeling the need to choose a specific life path.
As permanent as the decision may seem, the majority of students end up changing majors once they get to college. According to the National Center of Educational Statistics, about 80% of college students change their major at least once. If the fear of permanence is taking over your decision making—that is one thing to check off the list. Changing your mind is completely normal in this transformational life period of discovering yourself.
“Every time I tell people I am a senior in high school, they immediately ask what I want to do with my future. At every family party I get asked so many times and it makes me feel like I am falling behind since I am still unsure of what I want to do,” senior Carlie Knight said.
When picking a major it is common for high schoolers to feel torn between choosing something that reflects their passions or a job that pays well. Many people feel pressure to enter high paying fields just to feel a sense of comfort and financial safety. While some people truly feel fulfilled with these jobs, many do it for the paycheck—which will inevitably lead to burnout or unhappiness. On the other hand, choosing a field you are passionate about will keep you happy and engaged, even if it results in a smaller paycheck. For example, creative students pursuing the arts will be more fulfilled in the long run. Therefore, when deciding a major it is important to pursue something you will truly enjoy.
The pressure to make the seemingly binding decision for students’ futures comes with high levels of stress. Limiting oneself to a major to study confines students and leaves little to no room for experimenting different interests. It is a common misconception that your major leads to one career path, when in reality that is far from the truth. The majority of majors are flexible and can lead to many different career outcomes, so it is most important to devote your time to studying a topic you’re interested in.
“As a school counselor, I frequently deal with students who are actively stressing about their future”, WHS counselor Tori Connolly said. “Many college programs require you to apply directly into a major which forces students to make decisions before they are potentially ready to. I wish there was more time for exploration at the college level.”
High school puts so much pressure on students to succeed academically that they have little to no time to discover their passions. Students often put all their focus on getting through their classes, so when they are faced with college major decisions, they do not know what path they truly want to go on due to a lack of exploration.
“The hardest part about choosing a major is knowing what I would really be happy doing,” senior Peter LaRusso said. “I don’t want to be stuck with a job forever that I am bored with, and I feel like I haven’t really found something I am very passionate about yet.”
Taking time for yourself to discover your passions and interests will make the college major decision easier. As stressful and binding as the decision may seem, you are able to redirect your path whenever you feel necessary.