I'm a long time lurker, and you guys seem like you have some good advice about life in general Growing up, I have always been the smart girl, so when I had to choose an education, I naturally thought university was the right place for me. But it is so hard! I found out pretty quickly that I would never be a great mathmatician, but I thought I could push through anyway. But I am sick and tired of barely making it. I've realized that I'm not happy anymore, and I think the fact that I'm struggeling with my studies have something to do with that. I'm thinking, that it would be better for me to pick something a little easier, that I actually could be good at. But somehow I feel it would be sad to have to give up 2 years of math Plus all of the friends I have made and the people who wouldn't understand what I was doing I just don't now what to do, I really just want to be happy again...
Maybe a degree in sciences would be better for you? It's very versatile and as you can see, you might change your mind about what you want to do in life. It's best to pick the best foundation from which you can jump off into other opportunities, as nowadays most people end up having many careers in your lifetime versus just one, or the one that you think when you are young.
If after 2 years you are not feeling happy about the direction you are going, think about where you DO want to go instead. However, I would definitely advise you to stick to getting a degree and finishing it up. Just maybe pick something more general, but not so general that you end up with a degree you can do nothing with, know what I mean?
Hi! Welcome to the forum! What are you genuinely passionate for? What profession do you see yourself in that will make you truly happy? If what you are doing now is making you unhappy, then change to something that does. I realize two years seems like a lot to be giving up but do you want to spend the rest of your life doing something that doesn't bring you joy? Find out your passion and go for it! It took me four years to figure out what I really wanted to do so I know what it feels like to change from your original plans but I'm happy I did.
Don't get so caught up in the "sunk cost" way of thinking. I know you've spent two years studying one thing and it seems like a "waste" to stop studying it, but it'll be even worse if you finish your degree and have no intention of using it!
Trust me, if you're not feeling it then it may be time to reevaluate and see if you're heading on the right path. Don't be like me and get a Master's degree in something you may decide to not pursue anymore! I kept falling into the sunk cost way of thinking and while I liked going on to graduate school, getting my Master's and all that, I'm not so sure teaching is for me anymore. I wish I had figured that out sooner!
of course! if it's not for you, it's not for you! i changed my mind a bunch of times when i was younger, dropped out of school, tried some jobs or alternative education, then finally went back to uni to go into teaching. very few people actually know RIGHT AWAY what the right path is for them. now i understand that going to school is expensive, but this will really be better for you in the long run.
FYI, one of my good friends who did the education program with my for 4 YEARS, realized after 1 year of teaching that that's not what she wanted to do with her life. now she works in a bank. lol.
Be glad you're realizing that you're not as into your major as you thought after only 2 years...I graduated and found out that there were a lot fewer opportunities than I'd hoped and that I really, really hate the one most commonly available. I'm sure that you covered a lot of core classes and there are lots of other fields of study where math is relevant (and required), so don't look at it as a waste that that's where you focused most of your energies. It's not worth driving yourself nuts trying to do something unless it's something you're really passionate about. As for the friends concern, taking different classes isn't the end of the world. Of my closest friends in college, one was an accounting major, one was a criminal justice major, three were English majors, one was an astronomy major, one was a physiology major, and one was a business major. I never had a single class with any of them except for marching band (which I really don't see as a class, but I suppose there WERE credits involved). Moral of the story, I'm sure that you have email addresses, phone numbers, and/or facebooks for all of your friends. In this day and age it's not exactly impossible to keep in touch and make plans for the weekend.
Keep your chin up and try to look into different options. Don't kill yourself trying to do something that you don't enjoy.
Definitely do what you're passionate about! I started out in engineering at this fantastic engineering school. But I realized after - yup- 2 years, that it was completely wrong for me. My mom was really angry, because she had put in so much money. I completely understood her frustration, but I knew it wasn't going to make me happy, and I wasn't doing well either.
This semester I finished my degree in Political Science with two minors and an internship under my belt. I am still looking for my permanent job, but I graduated with honors and I think I have some prospects on the horizon.
I did take a semester off to rethink my goals, and when I returned I took some classes all over the board because I never had since I had gone straight into engineering. I found what I was passionate about.
You should do the same (courses wise, not taking a semester off). If all else fails, you can make math a minor of yours and then it's not wasted. Employers love to see math skills on a resume. One of my best friends finished her Poli Sci degree with a math minor and she got a job right out of school.
Find what you're passionate about and go for it. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in a job where sure you might make a decent amount of money but you'll be miserable. Enjoy college, your classes, your new classmates and life itself.
Your friends will still be your friends no matter how many or few classes you have with them
Good luck!
Last edited by redrose8988; 01-03-2013 at 09:15 AM.
I'm a long time lurker, and you guys seem like you have some good advice about life in general Growing up, I have always been the smart girl, so when I had to choose an education, I naturally thought university was the right place for me. But it is so hard! I found out pretty quickly that I would never be a great mathmatician, but I thought I could push through anyway. But I am sick and tired of barely making it. I've realized that I'm not happy anymore, and I think the fact that I'm struggeling with my studies have something to do with that. I'm thinking, that it would be better for me to pick something a little easier, that I actually could be good at. But somehow I feel it would be sad to have to give up 2 years of math Plus all of the friends I have made and the people who wouldn't understand what I was doing I just don't now what to do, I really just want to be happy again...
I studied math and biochemistry in college. I was great at the biochem (lots of memorization) and really struggled once I reached the 400 level math courses. It was tough getting Bs when school is something I had always been good at, so I completely understand where you are coming from. Although I hate to admit it, some of the concepts were just beyond my abilities.
I think you need to take a step back and think about what you want as a career and not just what you want to do with your major. After all, the major is preparing you for your professional life, which will be much longer than your next 2 years in school. There are many options of related majors that use your analytical and quantitative abilities, but are more applied and less theoretical than a pure math major (ie much easier). For example, actuarial studies, accounting, finance, statistics, computer science, or engineering. All of these majors have math prerequisites so it is not like you would be throwing the first two years out the window.
Anyway, you should not feel like you would be letting others down if you shift gears in school. Your happiness and continued success is what really matters in the long run.
Last edited by Shrinkberry; 01-03-2013 at 11:21 AM.
I had my heart set on being a linguist. Then I realised while I am interested in it and understand the concepts, I really do not test well and I was getting B at the highest. So I realised my love of languages would not lead me to being a linguist but rather I decided to switch my Major to German, french and law and society. I had previously done many of the law courses and excelled and I still love languages and so far this is the fit for me. So what I won't be a linguist but maybe I'll go to law school and be a multilingual lawyer? :P Basically what I'm saying is don't let it get you down cause you can turn it around or adjust your plans to fit what is really right for you. Its never too late to find what you really want to do.
I once read that the place your mind goes when you're daydreaming is what you're meant to do. I interpret it as wherever your mind drifts often might be something worth exploring as a career.
I genuinely enjoy languages and my mind is often drifting to me as a language teacher. It's something I genuinely want. But there are other places my mind drifts. I'd really like to teach hula hoop classes, and start an Etsy shop selling hula hoops, but those are little side projects compared to the teaching. Though I think I'd be happy doing either of those things.
So ask yourself where your mind drifts most often and it might help point you in the right direction.
There is no shame in changing your major. Just don't be like me and graduate with no options available to you for work once you relocate. Decide what you want to do and go for it! I'm sure your friends will be understanding and there are lots of ways to keep in touch!
I also went through what I called an "early life crisis" in college. :P I started as an aerospace engineer and I was positive that's what I wanted. One year in, right after I signed for a co-op with GE Aviation, I realized I didn't want to do it anymore. My parents (especially my mom) were really disappointed with me. I was at a great school, second in the nation in my field. I took a semester of general ed classes to decide what I really wanted to do and ended up in biology, something I had originally wanted in high school. I'm so glad it's what I decided on doing. My mom still gives me crap about it, but it's my life, not hers! And I actually only graduated one semester late, despite changing my major. Summer semesters helped. :P
Thanks for the advice guys I know I should just go for what I want. I also talked to my mom about it, and she also told me that I should do what makes me happy
Life changes?
Growing up, I have always been the smart girl, so when I had to choose an education, I naturally thought university was the right place for me. But it is so hard! I found out pretty quickly that I would never be a great mathmatician, but I thought I could push through anyway. But I am sick and tired of barely making it. I've realized that I'm not happy anymore, and I think the fact that I'm struggeling with my studies have something to do with that. I'm thinking, that it would be better for me to pick something a little easier, that I actually could be good at. But somehow I feel it would be sad to have to give up 2 years of math 
Plus all of the friends I have made and the people who wouldn't understand what I was doing 
