TEEN CENTER :: COLLEGE CENTER : FRESHMAN JOURNAL

FRESHMAN JOURNAL: JANUARY 11, 2007
'There Is Nothing Wrong With Changing the Plan'

Ashley C. Sawyer

"When I grow up I want to be a fireman!" It's just about every little boy's dream but soon he grows out of it and the path of life leads him in different directions.

What is so ironic is the naivety of youth and how many of us presume, even into our early 20s, that nothing is impossible and the sky is the limit. We always have this dream of how we perceive ourselves in five, 10 or 15 years, but it is rare that we factor in where life's twist and turns might take us. Personally, when I was 5, I expected to be a doctor on Mondays, a teacher on Tuesdays, a model on Wednesdays, a singer on Thursdays and an actress on Fridays. When I got a little older I realized to change careers every day would be too difficult and most people stick to one or two careers per lifetime.

I still do have dreams that seem impractical. I am an optimist. From the time I was in the seventh or eighth grade, I wanted to be some type of broadcast journalist, preferably working as a political or foreign correspondent. I wanted to be a part of positive change, and I wanted to change the way the media portrayed people of all races, particularly African Americans. I thought with my passion for journalism and limited understanding of politics and foreign relations, I could single-handedly change a major institution.

Several years-and one semester later-I have it's a career that might not be suited for me. Still, it is really difficult to let go of a plan I have had for so long. What I know about myself is I have to do something I really enjoy and something that is contributing to the better of society and the betterment of those in need. However change is still a jagged pill to swallow.

I have not declared a major, but I was anticipating double majoring in political science and journalism, with either a Spanish or Arabic minor. Once you have told everyone you know how driven you are and how much being a political correspondent means to you, it's hard to back down and change the plan. Still, college has introduced me to wide array of options and people who have made me contemplate changing the plan.

People often laugh about how frequently college students change their majors and seem to "flip flop" back and forth. I believe we should be praised for constantly re-evaluating ourselves and being bold enough to try something new in search of what satisfies us. Too many people are stuck in a major they are not interested in or a career path that seems practical-and likely a life of misery and boredom.

The most important thing I have learned is there is nothing wrong with changing the plan. It seems like everything else has changed: my friends, my weight (thanks to the freshman 15) and now my interests. I do not want to appear to be flowing with the wind nor do I want to make it appear as if I change plans on a whim, but I have seen so many adults go day in and day out to a job they hate just to pay the bills. I have seen highly talented individuals who want to be teachers or social workers but decide to be investment bankers so they can afford a nice lifestyle. Why should we have to sacrifice our dreams for practicality?

In no way am I discrediting the higher-paying career fields because they too are valuable in society, but I feel it is important to not let money be the guiding force in my decision-making. I disagree with the idea that so many college students' goal is to "get rich." So many of us are apathetic to the world around us, and for the few who do care, it does not make sense to sacrifice our naïve plans to change the world in order to do what we are told "makes sense." If a I want to be an activist and change the prison system or fight AIDS or be a humanitarian, I should be encouraged to explore all the different fields of study, be it sociology, political science, urban studies, peace and justice studies or journalism--if they will allow me to better understand how I can do my part.

So my plan is to continue to search for direction and look for my opportunity to be a part of positive social change. I may get a few funny looks when people ask my major and I tell them that it is not the same as it was before. They might joke about how often I might change it, but the truth is, change is inevitable and youth is about a belief that anything is possible.