A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I’m a university student majoring in business management, and I unfortunately hate my major.I was a performing arts major during my first year of college. I chose it because I didn’t know what else to choose, but I realized it wasn’t for me. I then changed my major to business because it was safe, practical, and I just wasn’t interested in any particular subject. Plus, I didn’t want to make another “mistake” and waste money and time. I’m now a 4th year business major going on 5th, and I’m barely getting by. I wish I had discovered my passions earlier. I’m considering pursuing a teaching degree (for elementary students) after I get my BA in business. I’m very unhappy with my major and if I could, I would stop studying it now and pursue a teaching certificate. I dislike most of my business subjects (accounting, finance, economics, calculus, stats, operations, etc.) except communications, marketing, and organizational behavior (people management). I’m great at teaching others, great with children, very patient, and enjoy helping others. Long story short: I feel that I cannot simply just stop pursuing my business BA even though I want to. My parents have been paying my tuition for 4 years and I couldn’t let that money go to “waste.” My parents are willing to pay for my 5th year of college, and I have to pay anything beyond. It’s very reasonable, but if I was to pay for my education, I’d rather be funding my education certificate and drop my business BA. Even with my business BA, I would not pursue a business-related career (or a strict cubicle job), or at least I would try hard not to. Fortunately, my parents understand me and support my future plans of obtaining a teaching certificate and a teaching-related job. However, my mom strongly suggests that I work full-time for a couple years after graduation first, to be able to support myself and pay for my teaching program, even if it means working in a field I dislike. I know that’s financially reasonable, but the thought of having to continue what I dislike for a few more years depresses me. I’d rather (continue) work as a part-time waitress (I love people and customer service) while pursuing my teaching certificate full-time, and make less money. However as much as I’d hate to admit it, business is more practical and it’s tougher to find a teaching job these days. And if it turns out I can’t find a teaching/preferred job, working full-time first would allow me to write a good resume, and be much more likely to get a decent office job (VS waitressing experience). What do you think is best for me? Is it worth being unhappy temporarily if it means being financially stable? Or should I follow my passions? I used to be quite practical and just now understand what it means to be passionate about something. I wish I’d listened to my older friends when they told me how important it was to choose a field I like. But oftentimes, less “popular” majors (graduates) can’t find a related job.
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female
reader, Auntie5 +, writes (17 May 2013):
Finish your degree with your current major, and try to find a job in that field after graduation for a year or two. By then, teaching jobs may be easier to find in your area.If you are willing to move, you might be able to find a teaching job right away. Some states offer a licensing program called "lateral entry", which allows people with degrees in business and science to teach without having to go back to school full-time. You get a teaching job and basically promise to earn your teaching certificate within a certain amount of time. It probably means committing to taking classes every summer until you're licensed, although the details will vary from state to state.Look into it; it may allow you to start teaching right away after graduation, while giving you more stability than part-time waitressing.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (17 May 2013): C. Grant, thank you for your great advice! You're absolutely right. I didn't think about how bad it would look to attend college for 4 years, quit, and have no degree to show. It's kind of like, what have you been doing all this time?
I have about 1 year to go. I'm also taking summer classes this summer, and most likely next summer. If I passed all my classes then it would only take a year. Unfortunately, being realistic with myself, that's probably not going to happen.
I'll get my BA even if it takes longer. Thank you for making me realize that having education in more than one field is actually a benefit.
- OP
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (16 May 2013): I changed majors from business to economics my last year in school. it was because of a calculus class I couldn't hack turned out I still had to take something called econometrics which was just as bad.
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A
male
reader, C. Grant  +, writes (16 May 2013):
 Ok, this is a big and important question. I recall the dilemma very well.
First, you haven't told us how much longer you have to complete the BA in business. My BA took five years -- are you in the home stretch and just need the one more year?
You point out that jobs are scarce these days, in teaching and in performing arts. That's absolutely right. Having a "marketable" degree increases your options, even if you find those options unpalatable. Trust me, unemployment is pretty unpalatable too.
By all means keep teaching as your goal. The world needs great, passionate and dedicated teachers. In my experience the best teachers are those who have some variety in their backgrounds. Having a business education will make you a better teacher by far -- imagine being required to introduce a bunch of grade 8 students to economics if you know nothing about it! And if you work in finance or HR for a couple of years to fund your teaching program, you'll bring yet more experience to the classroom.
Also a caution -- dropping a degree program this close to the end isn't going to look good on your resume. Potential employers could look at you as unreliable, unable to stick to commitments, etc. You won't be doing yourself a favor. With teaching jobs so scarce, you don't want to give anyone an excuse to pass you over for the next applicant.
What we're really talking about here is 'short-term pain for long-term gain'. When I was taking economics, one prof told me that my discount rate was too high. That was an absolutely correct assessment. 25 years on and I'm living with the accumulated impact of all those decisions that discounted the future too heavily. Best to avoid that while you can.
Life is a much nicer thing if you are earning a living in a way that's consistent with and compliments your nature. But there are sacrifices to make along the way. Stick with the tough stuff, pay your dues, and it will be easier to get to the place you want to be.
Good luck!
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