By: Trista Arthur

One of the most challenging and life-altering decisions a person can make is deciding their major in college. But how do you know if you are studying the right thing?

All four years of high school – and even before then – students think of what they want to study in college, or if college is even the way they want to go to further their education. For those that decide to go to college, they are tasked with yet another decision: what would be the best thing to study to help me in my career? And for some, it’s not what they want to study, but what their parents want them to study, or what would bring them the most money in the future. 

In all, you should decide based on what makes you happy. But luckily, for the first two years of college, there’s always the option to switch, add, or drop a major if you want. 

When interviewed and asked why and what they are majoring in what they do, three students at Wesleyan gave inspiring and insightful answers. Freshman Biology and Pre-Medication major Keirston Dayley told the story of why she wants to become a doctor, and therefore wants to study biology and medication.

“I chose Biology Premedication because I want to be a doctor,” said Dayley. “When I was in high school, a lot of teachers told me that I should pick a different career because I’m dyslexic, so I want to prove them wrong.” 

Photo by: Trista Arthur

Another student, James Humen, a junior Political Science and History major, said “I picked political science because throughout highschool I was exceptionally good at history and I always wanted to be a lawyer/go into politics, and I thought having a basic understanding of how government functions, why government functions, social constructs and all that would actually benefit going into that field.” 

Lastly, senior Hope Wyatt, a Psychology and Criminal Justice major, said “I chose my major because psychology always fascinated me and I felt drawn to it, and then I chose criminal justice because I wanted experience in the court system. With these two majors, I want to work for the F.B.I. and then go to law school.” 

It’s clear that these students chose their major based on what they felt the most comfortable with and genuinely enjoyed. College flies by, only if you aren’t miserable with what you’re spending your time studying. It’s supposed to be the best years of your life, where you can grow into a well-rounded individual who has experience in every field. However, your major classes shouldn’t be on a topic you don’t like, or aren’t interested in. And if you find yourself in a major you don’t like, remember there is usually time to change it.