By: Nicole Evans
Once upon a time, I was in high school. It was Grade 12 and I was trying to decide what I should take in university. I couldn’t decide, so I applied to six different schools and at least three different programs. I finally settled on engineering because both my father and grandfather were engineers. I liked math and physics, and it just made sense. So, come September, there I was at UBC, sitting in my first year engineering classes. Life was good – busy, but good.
Then came the time for second year program selection. Once again, I was completely lost. I wasn’t sure if engineering was what I wanted to do in the first place, and now I was being asked to choose what type of engineering I wanted to do! Despite my confusion, I finally settled again, this time on Integrated Engineering. It was the perfect compromise because I got to take classes from all the departments, therefore avoiding my decision dilemma.
Come September again, there I was at UBC, sitting in my second year Integrated Engineering classes… and I really didn’t like them. I loved the program and I loved my friends, but I hated my classes. One day, I sat down and opened the gigantic list of UBC programs. After many hours of elimination, I decided that the least objectionable option was geography. I applied to transfer into the Faculty of Arts – a bit of a departure from the world of engineering.
I dropped all of my engineering classes for second semester, and for the first time I GOT TO PICK MY CLASSES! It was amazing – I got to choose whatever I wanted! I had some biogeography, human geography, philosophy, religious studies… I was so excited. It was a bit of an adjustment moving from engineering to arts, but I enjoyed it. My classes were interesting, I understood everything, and what I learned seemed relevant! I missed the community in engineering, but I was happy.
Then at an engineering event that I helped organize for Integrated Engineering, I ran into the Dean of Applied Science. Yeah – the Dean. The head honcho, the big cheese, the person you think you’re never going to ever meet. But I met him, and we got talking. It was the first time that anyone had shown real interest in my reasons for leaving, and what my plan was now. At the end of our conversation, I’d been convinced that Civil Engineering was where I should be. I applied to transfer, and after way too much waiting, I got accepted.
Come September, and there I was at UBC, sitting in my second year Civil Engineering classes. And I loved them. But Civil Engineering isn’t just bridges and buildings. There’s a lot that you can do, and I have absolutely no clue what I want to do. But right now, I’m where I want to be, and that’s great.
So, the moral of the story is that if you don’t know what you want to do, that is totally okay. Try taking a class that you find interesting; maybe consider a minor from a different faculty. Or, if you’re completely crazy like me, switch your degree. Take it from someone who’s been there – it may be stressful and a bit scary, but it’s worth it in the end.
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