There is so much more out there than you know. Coming to university, I thought I wanted to be a teacher. I had planned to make English my major, and find a second teachable along the way. After my first semester I realized that I wanted philosophy to be my minor. After my second year, I realized that I wasn’t sure if what I originally wanted was still what I wanted, and I felt an abundance of fear. I had just spent two years, and countless more years of my life, thinking that I was going to achieve one specific career goal, and it was now slipping away. What was I to do? I had planned for this—and now what did I have? Nothing.
At first, the fear of not knowing what was next was crippling. But then I realized that I had the opportunity for a fresh start. I still wanted to study English and philosophy—they’re where my passions come to life—but I didn’t know what I could do with those degrees. I took time off of school to be sure I was studying the right thing. Sure enough, when it was time to choose my classes, I knew. This was definitely still the right area of study—but what field could I get into?
When I left high school, I had no idea what was out there. I had heard of different jobs that people held, but I didn’t know the depths of endless opportunities that were out there. As a University of Guelph alumna, I highly recommend that you really investigate the workforce—there is so much more out there than you think there is. Think about your current and developing skill set—what kind of work fuels your passion and feels right? That is the direction you should be looking toward. You should be developing a career that fits with your own personal strengths—a career that continues to push you to be your best.
Obtaining a degree will not get you a job—it’s what you do with your education, and how you sell your skills that will get you to where you want to be. It takes time to figure things out, so be patient. It all comes down to hard work and dedication; you do have what it takes, so keep going! There are going to be times when you will think, “What am I doing with my life?” That is okay. The truth is, everyone feels like that sometimes—even people who already have careers. Feeling unsure is totally natural at any stage of life—it’s how you deal with uncertainty that is important.
My advice to you is to set goals for yourself but to not close any doors. You may think you want to be a teacher, or a doctor, or a physiotherapist right now, but you may not feel like that in two years, and that is totally okay! While at university, develop your skills, but try to keep an open mind so you can use these skills for many different things. You don’t only have one option, so don’t feel trapped if you happen to change your mind.
About
The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.