A few weeks ago you may have read a blog post I wrote, raving about how excited I was to be a teacher and how good I felt dressing for my future job. Which is why I now feel embarrassed to admit that I don’t think I want to be a teacher anymore.
I mean, I know I don’t want to be a teacher, at least for now. But even more than the embarrassment I continue to feel, I was confused. Up until a few hours ago, I only knew one thing about what I wanted to continue my education in: English and creative writing.
What on earth could I do with that? I knew I wanted to perhaps combine it with a Communication degree emphasized in media or writing. I also knew that the rest of the Communication degree would not suit me. I was faced with a dilemma.
I met with Amy Freehafer from Career Development this afternoon, and she helped talk me through some issues I was mulling over. Amy looked at my StrengthsQuest results as well as my results on the Myers-Briggs personality test, and understood exactly why I was having doubts about education. For someone with such strategic and creative thinking as I have, the core-standards of education just don’t fit.
She saw potential opportunities for me that I couldn’t see before. I’d previously thought about editing, publishing, or becoming a professor. She recognized a passion for media and design in me that I knew I had, but didn’t know that I could turn into a career. Instead of adding another major on to my degree, Amy suggested that I take as many Communication classes directed toward media, as well as many art classes focused in computer and graphic design.
I was a bit perplexed, what would employers think if I just had an English degree with all of these extra courses? Amy doesn’t doubt the arts and humanities one bit. She often believes that she uses her English minor more than her social work major. Her goal was to help me choose classes that would build a valuable skill set, since employers look for that over a label.
After helping me pick classes for next semester and discussing the possibility of semester abroad, Amy continued to guide me toward internship and job resources, and people that can help me plan for my future. I have a checklist of things to do before and after the semester ends, including talking to someone in the Communication and Art departments, going to the Study Abroad Office, and meeting with someone else at Career Development to establish job shadowing opportunities at home.
She gave me so much, even devoting an extra hour to our time than I had signed up for. The Career Development Office is truly one of our most valuable resources here at Hope, and I intend to take advantage of it from now on.
I was lost, but now I am on my way to being found. It’s going to be a weird, long road, but I’m very excited for my journey as an “English and Creative Writing Major with a focus in Media and Graphic Design”.
Struggling with your major isn’t an uncommon thing. I’m a sophomore and I still don’t have it all figured out. So if you’re a prospective student reading this, know that you don’t have to be decided when you come in. And if you are, don’t be afraid if you begin to have doubts. Those doubts will get you to where you truly belong: where you’re happy.
I hope this post has helped you see some of the services our Career Development has to offer.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving,
Brooke
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