Finding Your Calling
I've always had trouble knowing what I wanted to do. From a young age I always thought that I would become an engineer, just like my dad. But as I grew older, this dream slowly began to die.
I didn't have the passion I once thought I had, and, as I began applying to schools my senior year of high school, I felt like my world was crashing in on me. I couldn't settle on just one major. I barely know what I am going to eat in the morning, how am I supposed to know what I want to do for the rest of my life?
"How do I even decide?"
For most college students, this is not an uncommon sentiment, we are often just thrown a list of a bunch of schools and about a 100 different majors and told to decide by this deadline.
In my college search, I ended with three different colleges, each with three different majors, Computer Science at UConn, Engineering at UC San Diego, or Communications at Quinnipiac. My decision may surprise you.
“Choosing a major is one of the most important decisions a college student can make. The choice can have a lasting effect on a student’s life, shaping work experiences, earnings and professional skills down the line.”
To be fair, I always found communications kind of fun. The ability to design something from scratch or work for almost any company interested me. This compounded on the fact that Quinnipiac was ten times cheaper than my next option also helped.
Luckily for me, my semi-idiotic decision played off, as not only did I enjoy my major more than anything I ever did in high school, but I also met some of my closest friends I've had in years.
Through these years at QU, I have been able to hone my skills through motion graphics, typography, advertising, and more. Finding the opportunity to create and innovate is what pushes me to keep trying, to keep working even when the overbearing weight of my classes and personal life feel like it is barreling down on me.
The struggle to keep working and the pressure of real life coming in as my graduation inches closer only adds to the constant worry that I feel. Am I even worthy of my degree? Will I fit in?
I want to succeed more than everything. To do the best possible work I can, wherever I can, whether at school or at my job. My drive to produce work I am proud of, something I can honestly look back on and think "this looks great!" is what makes me continue.
Even through my latest position at iRobot, I find it important to constantly look back at what allowed me to get here, and what I can do to continue to put my best self forward, even when I am unsure if this was right for me.
If you were to ask me four years ago what I wanted to do, I probably would've said "hmmmmmm" then trailed off, talking about something else. I'm glad to know I have found something I love, even if I still know there is room to grow. We are all on our own journey, but, it is nice to know you're heading down the right path.
Claybourn, Cole. “Choosing a Major in College: What to Know | Best Colleges | U.S. News.” US News, US News, 18 Aug. 2022, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/choosing-a-major-in-college-what-to-know.