LYNX LIFE LIBRARY

College is a time of exploration and growth, and with that comes a lot of change in one’s life. Many people enter college unsure of what they want to do, while others have had the same career path in mind since the fourth grade. Both of these paths are welcomed, and even encouraged at most universities, especially at CU Denver. I, for one, have experienced a lot of much needed change in the last three and a half years, and while it has been challenging, I felt supported each step of the way. Here is my story of career exploration, growth, and triumph in college.

In the beginning of my college career, I thought I had it all figured out: a Bachelor of Science in psychology then on to medical school to become a psychiatrist. Sounds easy, right? I began my four-year undergraduate degree at Colorado Mountain College and I felt confident in my decision. I loved my psychology courses and I was doing really well in school. It wasn’t until I transferred to CU Denver that my plan started to get shaky. My first chemistry course felt like a punch to the gut. In the past, the sciences had never really been something I struggled with, but they were never my favorite either. I figured it would be similar to high school, I could float by, staying passive and getting an A in the class, hardly giving it a second thought. This, however, was not the case. College courses are much more in depth, for better or for worse. I had never struggled so much in a class before and that’s when I began to think, “Is this really what I want to do? Do I want to continue in a subject I find more frustrating than fun for the rest of my life?” And for a little bit, the answer was “Well of course I do!” I was already two years into my degree and I didn’t think I would be able to change my mind completely. I wrestled with the idea for several months. I spoke to my family, friends, professors, and made several appoints with the Career Center at Lynx Connect, and all of my resources ended up telling me the same thing; it’s okay to change your mind. It could be one time, or it could be 100 times, that’s what college is all about, exploring different options. This made me feel more comfortable in my struggle. Other people, in fact the majority of people, experience changes in their career paths and degree plans while in college, and there is plenty of help available to you. But this idea of change being okay was only the beginning; what comes next? Yes, I can change my mind, but how do I explore other career options? This was when I began to take several different classes on topics I was interested in.

From philosophy to sociology, I found many new interests, all of which introduced me to new careers I didn’t know existed before. I spoke to so many knowledgeable people and asked them about how they were introduced to their careers. That was when I landed on it; a therapist. The perfect career! Or so I thought... I could continue with psychology and help others without having to go to medical school. As I began to research the career more, this option became bleak. While money should not drive every decision, especially one that would have such a grand impact on the rest of my life, it is a factor one must take into consideration. This career was not one that met my salary expectations. Back to square one, but this time, I was more stressed out; I was now in my first semester of my senior year and things seemed to have launched into hyper speed. But then it was as if the perfect career had been sitting in front of me the whole time. Since the end of my second year of college, I had been a Peer Advocate Leader (PAL) and was working closely with first year and transfer students, helping them acclimate to college. I loved my job, and that’s when it hit me; I could continue helping people with school by becoming a teacher. This felt like the best idea I’d ever had and I became very excited. I began researching and looking at graduate programs immediately, and I plan on applying for the Masters of Arts in Teaching here at CU Denver for Fall 2024.

I love telling my story, especially to the first years I work with, because it is one of consistent change and adaptation to that change. College can be overwhelming. There are a lot of things that are going on and what feels like endless options. But that feeling is normal, and if you are struggling to adhere to one career, whether it be your first choice or your hundredth choice, you are not alone. Change is encouraged and welcome!