What are you going to major in?

In 2002, I would have told you my future career was in sports television production

One of the most common questions students get asked, and you can imagine, at 17 years old, choosing a college major can feel huge. Like, “this decision will define the rest of my life,” huge. Between family expectations, social pressure, and that classic question—“So what are you gonna do with that?”—it’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to have everything figured out right now.

The truth is: choosing a major does matter… but not nearly as much (or in the way) most people think. And for the majority of students, changing majors is not just normal—it’s basically part of the process.

I originally went to UC Davis with the goal to be a veterinarian (isn't that what all little girls want?!), but quickly realized that wasn't for me. By my junior year, I had settled on a major in Communications with a minor in Film, with the new goal of working in television production. I had lucked out and scored a job with NBC Olympics for the Summer Olympics in Sydney 2000 (a much longer story for another blog!), and because of how that went, I was hired again for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, 2002.

Me sitting at the NBC Primetime Show news desk, where I was a production runner for the Winter Olympics 2002

Before long, it was a foregone conclusion that I would continue to work in television production with stints after graduation with Mark Burnett Productions (The Apprentice Season 1 & 2 - lots of stories about that if you have the time!), NBC Publicity, and Fox Sports Network, "The Best Damn Sports Show Period." In the end, I left the entertainment world for education and haven't looked back since.

Why changing majors is totally normal

Here’s the part that doesn’t get said enough: most students don’t really know what they want when they start college. And why would they? College is literally designed to expose you to new subjects, new people, and new ways of thinking.

It’s incredibly common to realize that something you thought you’d love… isn’t actually your thing. Or to stumble into a class

Me with 1980 USA Hockey captain Michael Erizione you took “just to try” and suddenly feel way

more interested than you expected.

Changing your major doesn’t mean you failed or wasted time. It usually means you learned something important about yourself. Some students change once. Some change two or three times. That’s not being flaky—that’s figuring things out.

Your major doesn’t decide your entire future

As you can see from my story, your major doesn't lock you into one career forever. In reality, tons of people work in fields that have nothing to do with what they studied. Employers often care more about skills than the exact name of your degree. Being able to write clearly, think critically, solve problems, and learn new things goes a long way—no matter what you majored in. People pivot all the time, and college majors are way more flexible than they’re made out to be.

A better way to think about choosing a major

Instead of seeing your major as a lifelong commitment, think of it as your best guess right now. Pick something that sounds interesting. Try the classes. Pay attention to how you feel doing the work. If it clicks, awesome. If it doesn’t, you’re allowed to change your mind. That’s not a setback—it’s literally what college is for.

***Why your major matters (at least a little)

Your major shapes what your college life looks like day to day. It affects the classes you take, the skills you start building, and the people you spend time with. A computer science major and an art history major are going to have very different weeks, and that’s okay.

Some majors also come with more structure. If you’re going into something like nursing, engineering, or education, there are specific requirements you have to hit. Picking those majors earlier can make things smoother and help you stay on track.

So yeah—your major isn’t meaningless. It can give you direction and help you feel grounded, especially if you already know what you’re interested in.

The bottom line

Choosing a major is important, but it’s not permanent, and it’s definitely not a measure of your success as a person. Most students will change majors, and most will be better off because of it. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to keep learning, stay curious, and give yourself permission to grow. Changing direction isn’t a mistake—it’s part of the journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxohysG4exI