Authored by Iker López

Choosing a college major can be a daunting task, and many students often feel uncertain about which path to take. While factors such as job prospects and earning potential are important, it’s equally, and probably more crucial to find a major that aligns with your passions and interests. In this blog, we will explore why it’s important to find a passion while choosing a major, and how it can lead to a fulfilling and successful career. Drawing from personal experience, I will share why I believe studying a major that I am passionate about, such as social sciences, has been so valuable for my personal growth and academic success. By the end of this blog, I want to persuade you that choosing a major which aligns with your passion is far better than choosing a major for job security.

My personal story

I grew up in Mexico City and went to a Mexican-Japanese school. Since I was little I discovered that I was more interested in topics related to social and political sciences, than the “hard sciences”. When I was 17 and I had to choose a major, I began to explore among those related to the topics that interested me. Anthropology emerged as a discipline in which I could combine two issues that attracted me at the time: multiculturalism and the socioeconomic and political problems of my country. When I told my family that I wanted to study anthropology, they were worried that it wouldn’t lead to a stable career path. Was I sealing my fate by not choosing a career with high demand for jobs? Nonetheless, my mom was the one who encouraged me the most to follow my passion, rather than pursue a traditional high-paying job, so I did that. 

While the pursuit of a high-paying job is undoubtedly important, I firmly believe that studying something that you are passionate about is even more crucial. As the Spanish poet Antonio Machado would say: “Walker there is no path, the path is made by walking”. In other words, I think that we shouldn’t see university as a means to achieve something we dream of, but as part of our life path that we should enjoy. In it, we will find the doors to the future, as long as we are passionate about what we do.

I’d say that choosing a major you are passionate about can be a key factor in achieving a successful and fulfilling career. By following your passions, you are more likely to put in the effort required to excel in your field, find greater job satisfaction, and approach challenges with a unique perspective. Ultimately, pursuing a major that aligns with your passions can lead to a more satisfying and successful professional life.

Thank you for reading my story! Stay tuned for more personal stories like these! We encourage you to share your own story to help the people around you through dissemination.