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SWITCHING YOUR MAJOR: IT'S NOT AS SCARY AS YOU THINK
Coming into NMU as a freshman, I thought I knew what I wanted to study. But what happens when you start to question if what you are studying is right for you? Switching my major was the best decision I have made, and I am a much happier and involved student because of it.
Hello! My name is Mia Hickey, and I am a junior here at NMU. I am studying Public Relations and minoring in Environmental Studies. However, that was not always the case. Here is my personal experience with changing my major, and how it’s not as scary as you think.
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Coming into NMU as a freshman, I thought I knew what I wanted to study. But what happens when you start to question if what you are studying is right for you? Switching my major was the best decision I have made, and I am a much happier and involved student because of it.
Hello! My name is Mia Hickey, and I am a junior here at NMU. I am studying Public Relations and minoring in Environmental Studies. However, that was not always the case. Here is my personal experience with changing my major, and how it’s not as scary as you think.
From my freshman year to the start of my sophomore year, I was an Environmental Science major. I have always had a passion for the environment, and the outdoors, as most NMU students do. So, I thought it would be a good idea to major in it. First semester of my sophomore year, I was getting into the nitty-gritty of my science courses. I was taking BI112 and CH111, along with a math course as well. Not only did I soon realize these classes were difficult, but I also realized I just was not as passionate about studying them as I thought. I was in a BI112 group chat where everyone was geeking out about what we were studying, but I soon realized I just did not have the passion to become a scientist. While I was doing pretty well in my courses, difficult classes can be hard to succeed in when you don’t absolutely love what you are learning.
I worried that if I made a change in my major, people would think I was changing because I “wasn’t smart enough” to be in science. And frankly, I was proud to be a girl in a STEM field.
Unfortunately, I was exposed to COVID-19 during my first week of sophomore year, and had to quarantine in Spalding Hall for 14 days. While as many can imagine, that was not the best way to start out my year. But, it definitely gave me quite a bit of time to think about my academic career and interests. After a crying session or two, and a phone call with my parents, I realized it was time to switch my major. I had to leave behind what others would think of me, and focus on what I thought was best for myself. And I honestly felt relieved- which was a good sign. I do want to add that the Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (EEGS) program at NMU is extremely loving and supportive, and changing my major had nothing to do with the program itself, just my interests lying elsewhere. So, I knew what I DID NOT want to do, but now I had to figure out what I DID want to do.
This is when I thought about all of the things in my life that did interest me, and I realized I was involved in a lot that had nothing to do with science! In high school I had a YouTube channel, spoke and sang in front of my church, and volunteered. At NMU, I had done a Snapchat takeover, and had just started a new job at the NMU Campus Visit Office. I love NMU, and was really intrigued with ways I could show off my school. Many of my coworkers there are Public Relations majors, and talking with them about my interests helped me realize I could be interested in it as well. So, I set up a meeting with Jes Thompson, a professor in the program, and she was extremely helpful. She helped me realize that my interest in promoting the University, and talking to others, were all PR related. One of my coworkers also invited me to an NMU Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) meeting on campus. After talking with Jes Thompson, going to that meeting, and evaluating my interests, I knew PR was the right field for me.
One year later, I am more involved than I ever have been. And that is because I have found something I am truly passionate about. I am the VP of Public Relations and Social Media for PRSSA, the Social Media Coordinator for NMU Mind Your Health, and I still work as a Campus Visit Assistant in the Admissions Office. I have also just started the Student Leader Fellowship Program. I have a Social Media and Marketing internship this semester at Superior Healing Initiative, a local nonprofit started by an NMU graduate.
While I realized science was not my main passion, I do still care deeply about the environment and what we can do to protect it. I hope my career in the future can involve environmental PR. This still will allow me to use my voice for environmental protection, in a way that fits me best.
My biggest piece of advice is to follow your gut. If something about your college experience does not feel right to you, then change it! Whether that’s your major, your part-time job, or the people you surround yourself with, it's better to make the change now than to wonder “what if?” NMU has a wonderful Academic and Career Advisement Center as well who can help you aid in that transition.
From my freshman year to the start of my sophomore year, I was an Environmental Science major. I have always had a passion for the environment, and the outdoors, as most NMU students do. So, I thought it would be a good idea to major in it. First semester of my sophomore year, I was getting into the nitty-gritty of my science courses. I was taking BI112 and CH111, along with a math course as well. Not only did I soon realize these classes were difficult, but I also realized I just was not as passionate about studying them as I thought. I was in a BI112 group chat where everyone was geeking out about what we were studying, but I soon realized I just did not have the passion to become a scientist. While I was doing pretty well in my courses, difficult classes can be hard to succeed in when you don’t absolutely love what you are learning.
I worried that if I made a change in my major, people would think I was changing because I “wasn’t smart enough” to be in science. And frankly, I was proud to be a girl in a STEM field.
Unfortunately, I was exposed to COVID-19 during my first week of sophomore year, and had to quarantine in Spalding Hall for 14 days. While as many can imagine, that was not the best way to start out my year. But, it definitely gave me quite a bit of time to think about my academic career and interests. After a crying session or two, and a phone call with my parents, I realized it was time to switch my major. I had to leave behind what others would think of me, and focus on what I thought was best for myself. And I honestly felt relieved- which was a good sign. I do want to add that the Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (EEGS) program at NMU is extremely loving and supportive, and changing my major had nothing to do with the program itself, just my interests lying elsewhere. So, I knew what I DID NOT want to do, but now I had to figure out what I DID want to do.
This is when I thought about all of the things in my life that did interest me, and I realized I was involved in a lot that had nothing to do with science! In high school I had a YouTube channel, spoke and sang in front of my church, and volunteered. At NMU, I had done a Snapchat takeover, and had just started a new job at the NMU Campus Visit Office. I love NMU, and was really intrigued with ways I could show off my school. Many of my coworkers there are Public Relations majors, and talking with them about my interests helped me realize I could be interested in it as well. So, I set up a meeting with Jes Thompson, a professor in the program, and she was extremely helpful. She helped me realize that my interest in promoting the University, and talking to others, were all PR related. One of my coworkers also invited me to an NMU Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) meeting on campus. After talking with Jes Thompson, going to that meeting, and evaluating my interests, I knew PR was the right field for me.
One year later, I am more involved than I ever have been. And that is because I have found something I am truly passionate about. I am the VP of Public Relations and Social Media for PRSSA, the Social Media Coordinator for NMU Mind Your Health, and I still work as a Campus Visit Assistant in the Admissions Office. I have also just started the Student Leader Fellowship Program. I have a Social Media and Marketing internship this semester at Superior Healing Initiative, a local nonprofit started by an NMU graduate.
While I realized science was not my main passion, I do still care deeply about the environment and what we can do to protect it. I hope my career in the future can involve environmental PR. This still will allow me to use my voice for environmental protection, in a way that fits me best.
→ Takeaway
My biggest piece of advice is to follow your gut. If something about your college experience does not feel right to you, then change it! Whether that’s your major, your part-time job, or the people you surround yourself with, it's better to make the change now than to wonder “what if?” NMU has a wonderful Academic and Career Advisement Center as well who can help you aid in that transition.
