Marketing Intern
During your senior year of high school, I’m willing to guess
you got asked these three questions at least 100 times:
- What do you plan on doing after graduation?
- Where are you going to school?
- What’s your major?
It can feel like those three questions begin to define your
college experience before you even arrive on campus. My first piece of advice
is to avoid obsessing over the answers you give to people when these questions
come up. Your future plans and major will most likely change- and that’s just
part of the process!
Is this a permanent
or temporary move to Lexington?
Overall, keep in mind whether your journey to Lexington is
your big break away from home or if you plan on finding a job in your hometown
after graduation.
Consider your interests and how they will affect your future
location. If you love the feel of a rural town, you’ll have to put in effort
searching for an interior design job in that kind of area. Likewise, a career
path in Plant and Soil Sciences isn’t going to be relevant in an extremely
urban area. Where do you see yourself living in the future? The best way to
ensure you end up there is to explore careers that have ample opportunities in
those areas.
Extracurricular
Scheduling
You already scheduled for classes, but it’s also a good time
to go ahead and think about the other things you want to do on campus. Ask
yourself what interests are you going to continue from high school and what
organizations does UK have that your high school didn’t? Explore them!
You can use extracurricular organizations to supplement your
potential degree programs. Many of these student-centered clubs provide
additional volunteer opportunities and sponsor guest speakers from the academic
field they are geared towards. In addition, job shadowing is an invaluable
experience to have as early as possible. First hand experience in the job
environment can help you steer clear of a particular field or add to your
excitement for your future career!
Use Your University
You’ll network with so many new people every day that one of
them is bound to be studying something that perks your interest. Actively seek
advice from the people around you as a way of discovering what programs are
available. College is about studying subjects that intrigue you, not just a
required curriculum designed by someone else.
Take the UK Core classes you are enrolled in seriously. Develop
relationships your professors, because they are experts on employment
opportunities specific to their fields of study. Decide if a follow-up course
would be worth exploring, especially for the classes that you really enjoy. Your
academic advisors and the James
W. Stuckert Career Center specialize in guiding you future goals. Play to
your strengths and honestly assess what skills you have to further develop.
Look Beyond Income
Don’t be preoccupied by an income number associated with a
particular degree program. The biggest predictor of success is genuinely
enjoying your career. Years of organic chemistry classes and demanding residency
will give you a six-figure salary, but it may not provide you with the creative
outlet you’ve always loved. If dollar signs are calling your name, being an
established professional is something you can accomplish in any field. Keep
this cliché adage in mind as you search for a good fit: “Choose a job you love,
and you will never work a day in your life.” Income is secondary to finding a
curriculum, and eventually a career, that fits you.
My biggest advice is to not rush into declaring a major. You
have plenty of time. If you’re feeling indecisive about committing to a degree,
be honest about it. Select a program when you’re ready, but understand it
doesn’t bind you for life! You can change your major if you find have a change
in career goals. Ask for help and use these tips to establishing yourself without
a definite degree!
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