It’s OK to change your major C

ollege isn’t all just one smooth ride. There’s supposed to be bumps in the road that make things a little wonky, but that’s just a part of the college experience, and it helps shape you to be who you ultimately are.

So when you feel like what you’ve been doing for a few months, maybe even for a year or two, just isn’t what you want to do — that’s OK. It’s actually great. However, when you first start to think about it, it’s an overwhelming and daunting task. Don’t worry, it’s not. The

University of Houston has a fantastic support system, and the counselors are your go-to people on this matter. Now, there’s just a few steps to get you started.

First, take a class or do an internship aligned with your new major. Let’s say you want to switch your major from business to media production. While continuing with your business degree during school hours, spend some time away from school interning at a production company or TV station.

There’s a lot you can learn during an internship, and it doesn’t have any effect on your grades.

It’s risk free, and if you decide against switching to this field, you’ve made connections to maybe pursue this again in the future.

If you don’t have time for an internship, add another course to your course load that’s related to your potential next major. You don’t even have to take it at school. Websites like Coursera and Skillshare offer courses where you can learn a new skill with no effect on your GPA. Plus, some of these programs even offer certifications.

After you’ve experimented with this new field a little, you’re going to want to sit down with an advisor from the major you intend to switch to. What they will likely do is give you a degree plan of what classes you’ll need to take in this new major in order to graduate.

If you’re switching majors around sophomore year, maybe early junior year, chances are, you will still graduate in four years since your first two years were taken up by university required prerequisite courses.

But, even if you don’t graduate in four years, that is also okay. Remember, if you’re happy in doing what you’re doing, chances are you won’t even mind taking the extra time in college to get really good at it.

Doing what you find happiness in is extremely important to not just your mental health but your life. Many people will tell you that sometimes, what you want to do with your life isn’t practical. But doing something that gives you purpose and makes you feel joy is practical. Do what you love, and it’ll come through in your work.