College life. Two words that usually get us on our nerves. How is our future going to be? Which career is the best for me? What am I good at? Those are many of the questions we ask ourselves when we figure out we are in the most confusing part of our lives.

 

Choosing career or university is not a decision we can make from one day to another; if you have passion for something or you’re good at many tasks it doesn’t mean it is the right decision, however, I recommend that when you are choosing your career, you have at least two clear reasons for your decision.

 

I am the type of person that learns more from the experiences and mistakes of people than from my own and that is why I wanted to share my experience about this topic which I consider one of the most important ones to talk about at school.

 

I’ve always been recognized for being very creative, for loving all artistic activities that imply using my hands, but on the other hand, one of my favorite subjects at school was math class, and it was kind of difficult to accept it because most of my classmates hated math and I didn’t want to be the strange one. I also thought that Architecture, one of the most demanding careers, the one that implies tons of creativity, good taste, time organization and perfectionism, was the appropriate career for me, but it turned out the other way around. I chose this career without any information about it, I just knew the basics and of course it was a mistake. Even though I applied to Architecture in Javeriana, and I was admitted, I retired three weeks after.

 

I never thought something like that was going to happen to me because I thought I was sure about what I chose. The thing is that it is a lot more than being sure; when choosing you have to be informed about almost everything. After what happened to me, I thought about some tips that maybe would have helped me when making the decision, so I’m sharing them to help you so you don’t make the same mistake:

 

Tip #1 - Investigate:

 

I know sometimes it is difficult to synchronize your passions, with your wants and what you are good at, but keep in mind the question “Is that what I want for the rest of my life?”, it will help you keeping the right path.

If you want to study in Colombia, you have to sit down and make a good research about the universities you’re interested in and the careers each of them offers. To do that, you can enter to the web pages or even go there and ask what you want to know. If you already have friends studying in some of the universities, you can ask them to take you and show you how the student life is.

If you want to study abroad, you have to be completely informed about the universities you want to apply to and everything they require for your admission. There is a high probability that you will have to take an international test like the SATs and the TOEFL.

 

Tip #2 - Investigate about yourself:

 

This is the most important tip. You have to pay close attention about how you are doing at school, about your hobbies, passions, and daily activities you perform. Do you play a role at school? Are you a leader? Or you just keep a low profile? You can also make a list of the subjects you can afford coursing at university, and remember that if you’re not good at one subject at school, it doesn’t mean it will happen in college.

 

Tip #3 – Compare:

 

If you want to know what career will fit you, you can compare what you did in tip 1 and 2. Compare the study plans for the career you want in the different universities that offer it. Be careful, you have to compare every semester.

 

Tip #4 – Choose:

 

Do not pressure yourself to make a decision, take it easy and choose what you want, don’t let others’ opinion affect you. Remember that if you love what you are choosing, you will always succeed.

 

If you feel lost or need help, talk to a psychologist or a professional orientator, it is better to ask for help than doubting your entire life about your decision.

 

I know it may be difficult to accept your life will change in such a few months or years, but you just have to take it easy. Live each moment calmly especially if you are in eleventh grade. College life is something completely different, but it is amazing so don’t be afraid!

 

If you want to know something else about Architecture or college life, you can contact me.

 

 

By: Maria Jose Alfaro Mariño