Staring at the college application in front of you, you wonder why years of preparing for college and building a resume worthy of admission into your top choices of universities did not better prepare you to make this decision-choosing a college major. 

For a generation that has spent most of their scholastic careers being prepped for college, whether that be through advanced classes, ACT prep books, or scholarship programs, it would be logical to assume that the journey to college would have begun with determining what one actually hoped to study while there. Unfortunately, this is not always true. 

The opposite is often the case. The students who are deemed the most “college ready,” the ones who have taken the most AP classes, attained the highest ACT scores, and formulated the most impressive list of extracurriculars, are often the ones who are most confused about what to do after high school. 

The reason why? A lack of time for students to realize and develop interests they may be passionate enough about to pursue for a career. 

By the time students spend eight hours a day at school, participate in after-school extracurriculars, and complete the necessary homework, it is difficult to find time to discover what truly gives us meaning and joy.

It would be ideal to have a time during the school day, even if once a week, to explore different career paths, in a way that is not as permanent and weighted as a year-long course. 

This solution would also help teachers. Clearly, having students who are more aware of their interests would help teachers to know what captures their students’ attention. 

While many may argue that college is the time for youth to discover the career they truly want, it can also lead young adults who are pressured by student debt and the competitive job market to settle for whatever path their freshman year schedule places them on. 

The same can be said for students who might be pursuing a trade instead of a four-year degree. 

If students could be given the time to at least rule out or prioritize certain focus areas over others, they would benefit more from their time in college or trade school and possibly be happier in their chosen careers. Imagine how much more productive society would be if more people were given the chance to discover their calling. 

This is not to say all has been for naught; the education we have obtained thus far will be the basis for any field of study we choose to pursue, not to mention, the work ethic and character developed.

The only way to develop a passion and purpose is through self-reflection and discovery, and a time for this is as important as any other class. 

Now imagine knowing exactly what to put on that college application, having confidence and passion for the path you have chosen. Having faith in the direction you are going is the best start to the adventure.