By Gabriella Gomperts, Features Editor
Whenever I meet someone new, the conversation always goes something like this:
“…so what’s your major?” *internal sigh* “I’m double majoring in English media studies and anthropology.” “Oh, that’s interesting. What are you gonna do with that?” “Such a good question, I don’t know.” “…Oh.”
Those who don’t know what career they want to pursue can understand the struggle. It’s not for lack of trying different things and doing my research, it’s just that no career path has ever felt particularly appealing to me; the thought of doing the same thing everyday sounds horrifying and the idea that I might lose interest in my job if I don’t choose ‘the right one’ terrifies me.
I want to do something I genuinely enjoy, but the things I enjoy just aren’t marketable.
My sophomore year, I thought I would pursue a career in journalism. I took a news writing and reporting class and loved it. I wrote for the YU Observer every chance I got and even had a summer internship for a news site.
However, the excitement didn’t last. I eventually found that writing articles, while fun and rewarding, was also grating. I already felt myself getting burnt out, and I had only just begun. I couldn’t see myself doing it much longer, let alone my entire career, if I was already losing interest.
I see others with a serious love and passion for journalism or other careers and just can’t relate. I wish I had that drive, that fire inside that pushes one to work hard and succeed. I saw others experience this feeling and felt like I was missing out.
I also feel a lot of guilt. What’s the point of going to college if you don’t have the picture perfect stable career after to look forward to? What’s the point of this very expensive investment? Honestly, I felt jealous of the bio majors, whose career paths seemed perfectly laid out for them.
Obviously, there’s a point to my being here. College is a lot more than just taking classes and getting a degree. It’s about furthering your education, in and beyond the classroom. I would not be the person I am today if I didn’t come to YU. The skills I’ve learned and experiences I’ve had are priceless, and will serve me well in whatever I wind up pursuing.
There are also upsides to being undecided in college. Even though I’ve had an extended course load for three years, I’ve managed to escape burnout because of the classes I’m taking. Both of my majors are shaped, meaning there’s a lot of variety in the classes I’m able to take. Along with literature and sociology courses, I’ve taken film and archaeology classes. These courses have been some of the most impactful learning experiences I’ve had. The themes we discuss and the skills we develop in these classes are unlike any other. The teachers are passionate and push me to think differently in class discussions, and I find myself applying what I’ve learned to other classes and even aspects of my life.
Not knowing what I’ll be doing in a year when I graduate is daunting, but I’ve come to realize it’s also incredibly exciting. My options are completely open; I could go to Israel, graduate school or try out whatever job comes my way. The possibilities are endless, which is in some way freeing – I’m not tied down to a set career path, and can see where different opportunities take me.
There’s a fire somewhere within me, it just might take a little longer for me to find it.