Sometimes your path ends up different – and it’s better that way
When I began college, I had it all figured out. I was going to spend the next five and a half years working tirelessly to become an occupational therapist. I even knew what I was going to specialize in and was making plans to achieve my goals.
Then suddenly, I didn’t have it all figured out. With three weeks until my undergraduate commencement and the transition into the graduate portion of the occupational therapy program, I changed my major to general health science studies and walked across the stage to my new path: a master’s degree in interactive media and communications. And here I am today.
But why?
The short version: some sudden, yet intense soul searching. But here’s the long version:
During my third year, I was working first-year move in when my former university standard seminar professor approached me and said, “Hey, you were great in class last semester – want a job working on the university’s social media?”
After that, all it took was a Facebook message and I had a position in what would turn out to be my new path – only I didn’t realize it at the time.
I was thinking this would just be an opportunity where I can learn some new skills and make extra money. There was even an instance when my supervisor told me I should consider making this my career – but I laughed it off saying that occupational therapy forever had my heart.
That changed, though, when I started doing some soul searching with graduation rapidly approaching. Was occupational therapy really what I wanted to do with the rest of my life? Or had I found a new passion in social media? After a lot of thought, I realized that I had fallen in love with social media and I wanted to spend the rest of my career doing it.
I look back on my experience and wouldn’t change anything about it. The switch was relatively easy because of my passion. Finding new trends, using analytics to figure out what people enjoy, and creating fun and relatable content for users excites me – so why wouldn’t want I do that every day?
My bachelor’s degree in general health science studies has prepared me to provide unique perspectives and drives my curiosity. I am able to recognize that the continuous growth and evolution of social media leaves more to learn every day, and I couldn’t be happier.