How did you know which major was right for you? When did you figure out what you wanted to do when you got older?

Hello!

I knew my major (history) was right for me simply because it was something that I enjoyed and was good at. I originally wanted to be a teacher and thought that history, being a subject I am passionate about, would be the subject I would like to teach. However, after doing some work experience in my 1st and 2nd year of college which involved mentoring school children and assisting teachers in a classroom, I decided that rather than teaching I wanted to guide students in employment/career related issues and I believe that the school mentoring programme I was involved in helped me to realise this. I also became involved in a charity which gives free advice to anyone in regards to a variety of issues and this also verified what I wanted to do.
Although my history degree is not directly linked to the career I am going in to it has provided me with a variety of skills which will be useful and the overall college experience has really made me grow (sorry for the cliché) as a person in regards to independence and confidence.
Many of my friends studying the same subject have decided to go on to a variety of related careers and I feel that at the base of finding what you want to do career-wise is to study a subject you are passionate about and can imagine yourself studying for 3/4 years.
Another useful way to discover what to study or what career to go into is to get involved in work-shadowing/volunteering/work experience in a variety of settings you may be interested in. For example, you may have an interest in social work so you could organise a work shadowing of a social worker to see what their day is like and whether you may be interested in a career in that field. Don't be afraid to use you career services and to contact places you may be interested in work experience, they can only say no!

Don't be Kimberlynn. It is perfectly fine and you just did not come across something you are interested in. However, you should not stay passive about it. Taking online career test is the first thing you should do, I think. Next, you should research the careers resulted by these tests. If you are not satisfied with these careers, maybe you should look at your hobbies and maybe turn them into careers. I hope you the best of luck and keep me update with your progress through this question.

I think it's important to remember that it's okay if you don't have it all figured out. Give yourself time to decide what you are interested in, and think about what your strengths are.

Some possibilities include (but are definitely not limited to):
- working with people (e.g., teaching, public speaking, social work, hospitality)
- working with numbers (e.g., accounting, finance, engineering)
- being in a creative space (e.g., photography, music, art, film, television, writing)
- working with your hands (e.g., cooking, baking, building)

There are endless opportunities - don't stress yourself out by feeling pressured to make the "right" decision! Some of the most brilliant and successful people I know chase passion and do things they truly love rather than things society considers to be "right."

Some people know from an early age exactly what they want to be. Not all of us are so sure of our plans, and that's OK. Many people start off in some program in early college years and then decide on a major after a year or two.

Please assess your strengths by asking few questions. What are my interests? Am I interested in Liberal arts or Science or Business or Finance? What kind of learning environment is best for me?

Ask friends, older siblings, and or cousins who are in college now. Talk to your school counselor or one of your teachers.Networking with people and your interest will take you to the right direction.

Hello Kimberlynn - if only we all had a crystal ball, right? It's perfectly ok to be nervous about a future career path but don't let it overwhelm you to the point of never starting a career path. The good news is, nothing is ever set in cement. Many people start out college or their careers in one interest or field, determine it's not best suited for them, and then switch over to something else. What's important is to learn from those experiences and truly assess what makes you happy, fulfilled and energized to do each day. You can start now by looking at your hobbies and interests - are there any careers in those fields? Reach out to anyone you know or that have friends in those fields and get their perspectives. Good luck!