Every individual is confronted with the overwhelming question of what they intend to do for the rest of their life—for many, the outlet to that decision is attending university and exploring different fields to find a path that aligns with their passions, strengths, and long-term goals. Yet attending higher education—the place intended to help achieve those dreams—can also become the space where those ambitions start to feel more malleable than set in stone.
On average, 80% of students will change their major at least once, with the likelihood of it occurring within the first three years of enrollment, according to research conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.
UTEP graduate Robert Perez changed his major once within his academic career. He wanted to pursue a degree in music to become a choir teacher. However, he settled on psychology after taking an intro to psychology course at El Paso Community College.
“What influenced my decision the most was noticing how excited I was about psychology and how much I struggled with certain music classes. I realized that although I enjoyed singing, I didn’t particularly enjoy all the history and advanced aspects of music theory,” Perez said.
Perez’s decision to shift his focus came not as a spur–of–the-moment choice but as a gradual realization sparked by the fulfillment he found in his elective courses. In the process of exploring these subjects, he began to reconsider his major, ultimately realigning his path with a passion that better suited his interests and aspirations.
After much contemplation, Perez fixated on existential questions such as the purpose of his life, who he is, where he intends to go in life and how he plans to get there. Such introspective questions led him to transition from a major that gave him a sense of security to one that left him excited but intimidated by this newfound educational venture.
“I knew what a music teacher looked like and had a good idea of what they did. I even had experience in leading a [music] lesson,” Perez said. “I didn’t know what a psychologist did or what the job entailed. I did not even know the difference between a therapist and a psychologist.”
Passion is an essential ingredient when devising one’s future that can easily be changed from the individual‘s original recipe for their life. But sometimes, it’s not just passion that stirs the pot—financial factors can become powerful motivators, prompting students to reconsider their majors in pursuit of stability and job security.
Trevor Vigil, a student at Central New Mexico Community College, majored in business and was inspired by the dream of owning a café. However, after taking introductory business courses, they began feeling discouraged and reconsidered their path.
“I love my job in the coffee industry, but I need an industry that has a higher pay cap. I think the political situation in the U.S. has got me looking for the next few years. The way things are moving, the cost of living might go up substantially, and I want to live a comfortable life,” Vigil said.
To transition to cybersecurity, Vigil deliberated and discussed with a handful of friends who already worked in cybersecurity, noting positive praise for the occupation and the sense of financial security Vigil was searching for.
Changing their major was seamless, as it didn’t delay their initial graduation timeline—they still had a year left at community college. Yet, the decision came with lingering uncertainty, leaving them to wonder if they might one day regret the shift.
“Change it! Life is short; if you would rather learn something else, learn that. I’m hopeful it will save my life. I’m feeling motivated about it, and if all goes well, I envision myself happier with my career,” Vigil said.
While the notion of college is often framed as the blueprint for one’s future, the reality is more fluid. There will be divots and detours in that outline—moments of uncertainty, change and redirection that ultimately shape the parameters of what you decide your future will be. By embracing college as a nonlinear avenue toward their future and leaning into those shifts, students can rest assured that they aren’t losing their direction; they’re refining it.
Jazmine Gracia is a writing contributor for The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected]
