Since we were toddlers, we have been asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Answers vary from wanting to be a superhero, to a doctor and everything in between.

As we grow older and enter our teenage years, the pressure to choose a career path increases. High school guidance counselors start nudging us to plan for future jobs or college. For some, the choice is easy and based on natural talents or interests. For others, the pressure is too much, leading to stress and even more uncertainty. Do we choose to pursue something that may be expected of us by our families, or do we forge our own paths? Do we browse pamphlets and brochures, or do we conduct in-depth Google searches that confuse us even more about the choices we have available? 

I am a nontraditional transfer student and recently started my first semester here at Syracuse University in spring 2021. This is actually my fourth time in college! Like some, I felt the pressure to choose a career path while in high school. It seemed like I needed to chase the almighty dollar and make someone else proud of me rather than pursue something I had a natural talent or passion for. In doing so, conforming to unspoken and perceived pressure ended up backfiring on me, hence this “fourth time’s the charm” situation I’m currently in. 

I’ve also changed my major four times in the process. Initially, I was a pre-med student, then dropped out after my second semester. Then, I joined the Navy and served five years on active duty and another four as a Navy reservist. During that time serving, I earned an associate degree in applied marine engineering online, attempted to go back to school in person for a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering but had to withdraw for medical reasons. 

Fast forward 10 years, and here I am at SU, now pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology. After all this time of growing and evolving over several years, I still felt pressured to choose and complete my undergraduate degree. Again, I had to take a step back in order to evaluate what it was that I was truly interested in and wanted to do for the rest of my life.

In the grand scheme of things, college goes by in the blink of an eye compared to when you’ll end up working several decades until retirement. While some students may have undeclared majors, know that you don’t need to conform to external pressures in order to choose a career path. It’s unfair for young students to be burdened with the additional demands of having to nail down what they want to do for the rest of their lives. 

College is an excellent time to explore and try new things. You will connect with people, make friends from all over the world and hear others’ unique stories and perspectives that could inspire you to drastically change your life. 

Syracuse offers so many resources for students who know what they want to do and those who are still undecided. At the end of the day, do you want to be working the next 40+ years of your life doing something you were never actually sure of and that isn’t bringing you joy? 

We have plenty of time. You have plenty of time.

Amanda Lalonde is a junior psychology major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at ajlalond@syr.edu.

Published on August 31, 2021 at 10:27 pm