As someone who is incredibly indecisive (as I’m sure most of us are) and has changed majors four times now, the most important advice I have to give is to choose your major based on what you’re passionate about.
I started out as a business major because my parents wanted me to focus on what would give me an easy career and earn me as much money as possible. I soon discovered that I absolutely DESPISED the greed of business, and I switched to Environmental Engineering. I learned quickly that calculus was not my strong suit, and I finally allowed myself to follow my passion and change (yet again) to an Environmental and Natural Resources major.
I spent a year in the economic law and policy concentration and decided that wasn’t a good fit for me. I am now in the natural resource management concentration, and I could not be happier! The classes are so interesting and actually relate to what I’m passionate about. My advisor helped me pick two Creative Inquiries, which are super cool research-based projects, that helped me decide what I want to do for my future career.
At first, my family and friends were concerned about what kind of job and opportunities this major would bring, but so far I, have done far more in my short time in this major than I have my entire college career.
I had the incredible opportunity to travel across the world to Sweden to study the Baltic Sea with a group of Clemson students who have the same passions as me. I got a new job with Clemson Study Abroad, one that pays much better than my previous job at a fast-food restaurant on campus and is much more fun and laid back. I’m even interning with one of the Clemson faculty members that I met in Sweden at the South Carolina Water Resource Center. At this amazing job, I get to help plan large scale conferences that decide how to regulate the state’s water, and I may even have the opportunity to be flown back to Sweden to research wetlands!
The things you can do when you’re in the field you love are limitless. So please, take my word for it, and choose what YOU want!