Well, I've gotten lax with these posts. For a while there, I was really moving along. Now, it's more of a crawl. However, I was moving fast enough that I did forget to mention something at the beginning of junior year. So, we're backing up briefly.
If you recall, I came to college intending to major in music. That didn't turn out so well, and I spent my sophomore year taking Core classes (aka required classes) and hoping that I'd just fall into something that lit my fire. Turns out, that really didn't happen. But, you can't just wander aimlessly through the college experience forever without declaring a major. So, based solely on the fact that I liked to read I chose English. Yep. You read that right.
Now, that is a significant story right there. But, it's made worse by this one little thing.
When I was in high school, I found out that my mom dropped out of college after her sophomore year because she couldn't decide on a major. Well.... I thought that was hilarious. And I laughed in her face about it. A lot. I even told my friends. And laughed some more. Frankly, I was a bit of a brat about the whole thing. Who quits because they can't decide on a major???? hahahahaha.
Well, it was not nearly as funny when I was the one having difficulty deciding. When I got a call from someone in the admin department saying I couldn't go forward unless I decided... well, this sh#t got serious. And ironic. Very ironic.
I bet my mom had a good laugh. If she did, she was kinder about than I... because she never did it in my face, though I very much deserved it.
If you're enjoying these posts, feel free to share your own Soundtrack. This isn't a hop. No requirements at all, but a suggestion to do it one song at a time. (If you participated in the hop several years ago, you can still do this. Just post them one song at a time, with the freedom to add more songs if you'd like.) I'll link to all participants at the bottom of each of these posts:
StMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Cherdo on the Flipside
Holli's Hoots and Hollers
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
Mean Who You Are
Wrote By Rote
I'm sure some parents live for those moments. At least she never laughed at you.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
DeleteNice of your mother not to throw it back at you.
ReplyDeleteI never decided on a major so I just didn't go to college.
I always admire someone who knows early on precisely what they want to... and then does it.
DeleteI think I was undecided about my major for at least a year of college. Glad your mom didn't turn on you in a karmic way. You've had a hard enough go with her.
ReplyDeleteWell, our problems are more recent. But yes...
DeleteYour Mom was being a mom - we can't help but notice some of the "instant karma" moments but it is best to purse our lips and smile. You are her daughter and cut from the same cloth.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how any college students know how to navigate their future. When you think about it, they have a limited exposure to the great big world. I had no idea about the opportunities available to me. :-)
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ReplyDeleteWhoops! A duplicate! Senility is everywhere.
DeleteYes, I don't know how anyone knows for sure out of high school. Some do, but many are just guessing. That always leaves room for guessing wrong.
DeleteI hated match in high school, but did better in math on the SAT than English.
ReplyDeleteI started college as an English Education major (2.5 years), and got tired of the faculty telling the class they'd never find jobs (teaching in Pennsylvania was not a growth industry in the early 80's).
I switched to business because a girlfriend's father told me I needed to find a job if I wanted to support his daughter, and I picked a concentration in accounting because it was a tangible skill.
I started life in public accounting, then as an auditor, now a consultant, and have enjoyed it (for the most part).
I taught as an ad-hoc professor for a year and hated that.
Go figure.
They tell us in grade school to pick what we enjoy for work and never mind the money. I picked based on the money and was fortunate enough to enjoy it.
Larry
PS-as these posts continue, it seems to me your soundtrack is going to be more like a multi-disc box set!
You did get lucky, Larry. I'm so glad you enjoy your job. I don't think very many people do.
DeleteA multi-box disc set... yes!
Substitute "Business" for "English" and you have my college career. Except no romance...
ReplyDeleteWas it romance or drama? Hmmm.
DeleteI switched majors a few times from Dance to Education. I filed my degree plan, went to school for 4 years and then got a promotion in my job that was paying for my school. I ended up not graduating. Biggest regret of my life.
ReplyDeleteIt's really tough living with Regret. Not good company. I'd try to find a way to ditch it if possible.
DeleteWhat goes around, eh? My problem was never a direction--more the number of distractions. I tell you what, though, if I could constantly be taking just one class in the background, I'd be in heaven.
ReplyDeleteA college student for life? You're not the only one. I know plenty of people who'd love to go forever.
DeleteI went to school undecided. At the end of freshman year, I declared as a journalism major. Then the you-know-what hit the fan when I realized I was too shy to interview people I didn't know. At the end of sophomore year, I changed to English...because I like to read. Sound kind of familiar? the irony of it all is that in the end, I fell into a role interviewing strangers a hiring manager and over the course of my career I established the skills I would have needed to be a confident journalist. Now, I interview folks for articles I write for local magazines. Seems like I could have stuck with journalism after all...
ReplyDeleteIsn't life funny? I guess that goes to show we're going to end up somewhere in the end and the part that changes is the means of navigation. Or something like that.
DeleteYes, that story sounds familiar:)
My Soundtrack posts have been trickling through, but likewise somewhat slow in coming. But that's okay I guess.
ReplyDeleteWow, you and I have a very similar college path. I started out with a major in Psychology. When I got to the required class of Statistics I really bombed because I just didn't get it. And so many of the psychology classes seemed somewhat absurd--not at all as I had hoped--that I lost interest and just meandered through courses somewhat aimlessly.
Like you I switched my major to English because I liked to read and write. Most of my classes were Literature classes which was fine, but other than that I took an array of interesting sounding classes. I got a pretty neat education, but I didn't get any degree after attending for nearly 5 years.
About 40 years later I did go back to get my degree here in Los Angeles at the University of Phoenix. It was kind of a vanity thing. I now have an essentially useless B.S. degree in Business Management and a student loan that should be paid off in the next year.
I think my mother dropped out in her sophomore year as well. I think mostly it was to get married. She was never very college minded I think. I don't know that she ever had a major either. My dad did finish with a degree in English.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
The soundtrack posts are just a nice way to chart my blogging.Or give me something to talk about I guess. I think life experience is something we can all relate to... even if the experience is different.
DeleteI did terrible in statistics. Got the worst grade in life (college and otherwise). I just didn't get it. I really should've taken the basic math requirement course. Dumb me.
What amazes me is how the education system thinks that you should know what you want to do for the rest of your life by the time you are 17. Your mom is being...a good mom. She knew you would face this one day and she loved you enough to never bring it back to you. My niece went through all of high school taking courses in film only to realize she burnt herself out and no longer wants to do this. She is still out of school going on 2 1/2 yrs and is still thinking about what to do. She wants to make sure she knows before she gets into student debt
ReplyDeleteI wonder if we're going to see more kids opting for vocational school. College grads can't find work these days. We need more people with tangible skills in the work place.
DeleteOne of my sons didn't finish college because he really had no idea what kind of career he wanted. He's doing well at his job now but I fear there's a promotional ceiling because he doesn't have that degree.
ReplyDeleteThat's tough. I suppose he can go back. I know people who've done that. Not easy to work and go to school at the same time, though. Takes a very motivated person to do it.
Delete