Dear Karyn,
I’m in love with my major but I have no idea what I want to do with it after graduating from Longwood. Everyone tells me that I shouldn’t worry about my post-college plans during my freshman year but I can’t help but panic every time I think about my impending decision. I feel like I’m just wandering aimlessly while everyone else has perfectly thought-out career paths. How do I cope with this uncertainty?
Best regards,
Wanderer
Dear Wanderer,
Relax! Although your situation seems daunting because it’s close to home, I can assure you with 100 percent certainty there are plenty of other, older students in the same boat. Unlike you, some of them have significantly less time to make these decisions. You’re already much better off than they are.
That said, I encourage you to take steps to figure out what you want to do. Having some ideas will make you feel more in control of your life. Additionally, charting your course for the next few years will become a lot easier with a set goal in mind.
Investigating career paths doesn’t mean you’re married to any one profession so don’t sweat it if you change your mind multiple times throughout your journey at Longwood. Treat this investigative process like a series of (more professional) Tinder dates: you want to learn and get something out of the experience, but it’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t work out.
You mentioned in your letter that you love your major and that alone is invaluable. Whereas some simply float through their major’s coursework because it comes easily to them, you’ve obviously found your passion.
Start there by examining what opportunities are available within your department. Do they host any events where you could talk to people (possibly even alumni) who have jobs in fields that interest you? Do students in your major have any clubs that they run or recommend? All of these questions can be answered by talking to your peers and professors or simply scrolling through Longwood’s home website.
Additionally, the Office of Career Services is immensely helpful when it comes to checking out possible career paths. Just walking into their brightly-colored, well-decorated suite in the Maugans Alumni Center makes you feel competent and capable of not losing your shit every time someone asks “A ___ degree, huh? What do you plan to do with that?”
If you’re looking for ideas about potential career paths, you should schedule an exploration appointment. Here, you can speak with a career coach about what things may interest you and connect those interests to specific professions.
They can also teach you how to seek out informational interviews where you’ll have the chance to talk to professionals (including Longwood alumni) about their academic and occupational experiences. These opportunities can be really informative when you’re trying to get a better idea of whether or not you’d enjoy a certain job.
Internships and research opportunities are also fantastic ways to learn more about a career path. I participated in a summer program through Longwood’s Office of Student Research that allowed me to conduct independent research on a topic of my choosing.
Through this experience, I learned a lot about the world of academia and solidified my desire to become a college professor. Similar goals can be achieved through the completion of an internship. (You can also get help finding internships through the Office of Career Services.)
The most important piece of advice I can give you is to not let your anxieties about the future distract you from the present. There’s no denying that the uncertainty of not knowing what you want to do with your life is intimidating as hell; however, you have time. Enjoy the next four years at Longwood and seize every opportunity for professional growth that comes your way. At the same time, don’t forget to have fun through every step of it all.
Love,
Karyn
Karyn Keane is a student employee for the Office of Alumni & Career Services, focusing on special projects.
