Changing Major, Changing Life

Having a change of mind in college sometimes leads to changing your major. It is true for Van Cin, a sophomore studying at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. Cin’s previous majors were elementary education, then international studies, history, and now social work. As a junior, she had declared her major after times of not knowing what to do. Social work is a method that is concerned with providing social service. This practice-based profession has a mission to serve. There are many factors that can cause a person to change their mind.

Cin said, “I chose social work, because I decided to change it because of my big life event change…well because of what happened in my country of Burma.”

Personal life events can cause a change in decision making. For Cin, her homeplace in Southeast Asia was invaded by a military coup. This made her want to help other immigrants who were fleeing the country.

Cin said, “Well I want to work with refugees and in immigration because I can relate to refugee issues, and I have a refugee background. It’s because I have refugee background and I have struggles of refugees who have the same background as me. I don’t want them to struggle with the same thing I did.”

It is true that before you declare your major, it is crucial to look at your life and then think about life, future, and look at family background. Think about your long terms goals and then think about your family situation, your own situation, and think about your environment and what you like to do, then declare your major. At the first time she couldn’t think like that, and she didn’t think, so she quickly just chose any major that looked easy, Cin thinks that didn’t work out for her too well. Cin's life changes, and her mind changes. Why is it so hard for students to pick one specific major?

Cin said, “Well it was hard for me to choose a major because there are so many majors, and I really didn’t know what to do with them, so that’s why I kept changing it. Recently because of my life changes, I just picked one and decided to declare one and flow with this major.”

UNO offers over 1,800 majors to choose from. This University has many choices and with so many choices, it can appear intimidating as an undergraduate. Just like myself, I felt pressured to choose one major. It is hard because you know that a lot of time and money will go into this one field of study. You hope to like it and keep it long enough to graduate and get a career with your degree. Sometimes the thing is that all students want to do is work, and or travel. I just want to travel for fun and experience the culture. Before you declare your major look at your life and then think about life, future, look at family background. Think about your long terms goals and then think about your family situation, your situation, and think about your environment and what you like to do, then declare your major. At the first time Cin couldn’t think like that and didn’t think as much so she just chose any major that looked easy, and I think that doesn’t work for most students. My life changes, and my mind changes. Some of students change their major, and some of them are undecided because some of them don’t know what to do with their long-term goals, and they don’t know what to do with their life.

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