College Prep: breaking down your interests
Choosing a Major
The Major Breakdown
By: Sue Kiyabu
How breaking down your interests can roll in your future
Let’s say, you like to surf. But unfortunately, surfing isn’t a declarable major yet. But there are skills and lessons learned in everything we do —including surfing. You just have to “ride out” your interests and ask the right questions.
Do you like to surf because you’re choosing a college major, and self-competitive? Or is it because knowledge is an important factor. you can see dolphins and turtles
do you like to surf because you’re competitive? Or is it because you can see dolphins and turtles and appreciate the natural environment? Or do you like to surf because you like the physical and mental challenges?
According to Michiko Bigus, academic advisor at the University of Hawai‘i, there are many factors involved in choosing a college major, and self-knowledge is an important factor.
“Choosing a college major is not an easy process,” Bigus says. “It’s time consuming and it requires a lot of thought to come to an informed decision. Many students come to the university without having a particular major in mind and even then, a lot of students change their minds, sometimes once, twice, even three times before graduation.”
It’s important to keep an open mind— to know that the answer you give today, may change tomorrow and that’s OK. But the sooner you evaluate your values or goals, the easier the process will be.
“Maybe start off by identifying your favorite hobbies or school subjects,” Bigus says. “Some people want to learn things in detail and others like a broad perspective, even those insights can help.”
Sometimes it just takes declaring a major (even if you’re unsure about it) to see if it sits well with you. Try it on. Live with it for a bit. Oftentimes just taking the first few steps toward it will determine whether it’s a go or no-go.