After four and a half years, switching majors three times and dropping countless classes, I will finally earn my Associates degree in Business marketing at Kirkwood.
Throughout my years here, I learned a lot about myself and hope my experience can help others.
At first, I was unsure what I wanted to do as a career. I knew I didn’t want to be in the medical field and that was pretty much it.
I was a part-time Liberal Arts student while working a part-time job, joined the school newspaper and another club, hoped to go on a study abroad trip, and took any class that caught my eye.
Then, the pandemic hit. All of my classes and the Communiqué were suddenly online, study abroad was canceled, and the club where I made so many friends stopped meeting. Working in retail also became the most hectic in the four years I had worked there.
Around the same time, I tried, but failed exams that would lead me to take higher classes for biology.
I explained how I felt, still feeling uncertain about a career path. My brother finally made a suggestion, “Why not try business?”
I was uncertain about that idea and sort of laughed it off. I didn’t see myself in the business industry, but at the same time, it was a direction. Something to try and if it didn’t work out, it simply didn’t work out.
I decided to blindly enroll in Intro to Business and Microeconomics, and later changed my major to Business Accounting in the fall of 2020.
I then changed my major to Business Marketing after struggling in accounting classes, even dropping some that spring. Talking to my advisor about the different business majors and opportunities also gave me a big hand.
When I first went into the new major, I felt like a fish out of water. It didn’t click right away and I didn’t have any confidence toward the subjects.
In fact, it wasn’t until the beginning of 2022 when I worked with students from Scotland on a commercial for study abroad, that I had a better feeling toward the degree. And, after a second cancelation, I was finally able to take the trip to Scotland in summer of 2023.
During my time at Kirkwood, I learned that life isn’t a race. There is no right or wrong way in going through college. It’s okay to drop a class or take a semester or two off.
Don’t be afraid to talk to people who truly know you, because they’ll see something you’ve most likely missed.
When my brother suggested a business major, I didn’t see it at first, but now it’s something that I really do enjoy.
Outreach Coordinator | Distribution Manager
Categories: Opinion
