A Moment of Weakness

Posted by Saznin M.

I sometimes tend to think that as an undecided student here at Hopkins, I’m considered to be somewhat of a slacker. It’s tough to listen to all of my friends wax on about how much they love a class and how it has inspired them to major in a particular area. I wish I should be so lucky to have the same experience in the near future.

Proof that, yes, I actually DO work around here occasionally...

Coming from a small private high school that offered a only a limited number of interesting classes, I decided that in college I would delve into courses that I knew nothing about, but thought would be engaging nonetheless. I figured that this way I would be able to expose myself to new areas of study, and that this would help me figure out what I’d be good at and ultimately want to major in. Unfortunately, it’s almost the end of the first semester and I feel like I’m nowhere close to reaching this goal.

After spending the better part of a week drowning in a mire of serious self-doubt (not at all helped by the fact that I had two big exams), I came to the conclusion that there was, in a way, a glass-half-full scenario in all of this. Sure, the classes I’m in now are definitely not my thing, but the fact that taking them was all I needed to realize what I wasn’t cut out for has been a major plus. I might not know what I want to do, but at least now I have an idea of what I don’t want to go into. And hey, no one can say I didn’t try. I went out on a limb to try something new only to figure out that it didn’t suit my strengths, which is perfectly okay.

Hopkins on a gorgeous fall day

I’ve also realized that the sole purpose of the first two years of college is to find my niche. Just because everyone around me has an idea of what they want to go into doesn’t mean that I need to frantically rush to catch up with them in their self-assurance. And, seriously, it’s only first semester of freshman year. I have more than enough time to sort everything out.

On an endnote, guess who decided to pay us a visit the other week?
Does the name Will Ferrell sound familiar?? He came to Hopkins as a speaker for the MSE Symposium. I was lucky enough to have scored a ticket to the sold-out event. True to form, Mr. Ferrell hilarious and, oddly enough, much older-looking in person…

The man himself!

Just a week and a half left until Thanksgiving Break, I can't wait!

Comments

[JHU_Mandy]

Just remember that so many of those people who seem so sure of what they're going to do are probably going to change their minds (like me!). Consider yourself ahead of the curve actually...by not nailing yourself down to one area yet, you're exploring and trying out different things, so when you do decide on something, chances are you'll stick with it!

[JHU_Esther]

I agree with Mandy. It's a wonderful idea to wait to make a decision until later on in college. I came in IR and am leaving IR but I played around with minors. French, Econ, History, Film. Who knows, once you pick a major you may end up with accidental minors.