by 
I entered my freshman year of college completely convinced that I was on the path to medical school. I had spent more than a decade envisioning myself wearing a white coat, brandishing a fancy M.D. after my name. The plan seemed logical at the time, I excelled in Biology in high school, had good grades and great standardized test scores. I was encouraged by family and guidance counselors. My future, wrapped up with a pretty red bow.
Code Blue on my academic career
Fast forward a month or two and I was struggling! I hated chemistry and couldn’t figure out why in the world I had to take calculus. Worse, I didn’t have any connection to the career I had so painstakingly laid the groundwork for. Instead of listening to my gut (or my academic advisor at the time), I plowed forward through an entire academic year on the wrong path—ending my first year in college disheartened and feeling defeated.
Moving on
I felt like a failure! I needed a new path but I was too proud to visit my advisor, against whose advice I had defiantly enrolled as a Biology major {did I mention she could see even before I started that it wasn’t the right fit for me?}. Instead, I planned to take a semester off and “figure things out.” This semester off turned into two years before I was back in the classroom. This time, I focused on “the basics”—core curriculum classes I knew I’d need no matter what.
It was during this time that some passionate faculty members nurtured a spark for social sciences. Even then, the weight of others’ expectations coupled with my own misdirected competitive streak, made it hard for me to “give up” on a future medical career. Finally, I had a mentor convince me that it’s not quitting if you’re freeing yourself to pursue a better path. And once I got that straight, I never looked back. The right path isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it!
My advice to you
- Accept that false starts are more common than you think—this may mean poor academic performance in a course or a bad fit with your major—either way, it’s never too late to make plans to turn things around.
- Listen to professionals. We are here to help you and we care about your future.
I’m where I am today because people cared enough about my success to move me out of my own way. It took me a long time to get there but for you—it doesn’t have to be a long journey. We are here to help you achieve your college and career goals!
