I recently declared my major as pre-communications. I'm finishing up some GEC's but I jumped into pre-com because 1) Sometimes being an undecided (or as OSU says, "Exploration") can be really annoying, and 2) I'm applying to be a Resident Advisor, and I heard having a major declared has a big affect on the Learning Community in which you are placed. So I said heck, what do I care? I'll declare anything at this point.

Ok, not the best attitude. But seriously, "Exploration" can be no fun. First of all, I have no idea why they call it "Exploration"... I feel like I'm majoring in aspiring to be Christopher Columbus or something. And second, it makes one feel very... lost. Freshmen take survey classes at the beginning of the year for their major... the Exploration class is pretty much a weekly reminder of the fact that you have no idea what you want to do with your life, no one else can decide but you, and time's a-ticking. Not too much direction is given besides this, just some time ultimatums. And the Academic Advisors for this department can't help much if you have no specific goals, as in you aren't the student who has known you wanted to be a Lion Taming Brain Surgeon Orthodontist CEO since age 6, and has done every step necessary to get ahead of the game. Being in that office, I always felt like a student who had no bright future and no drive, and was just at college for an MRS degree or something.

However, it's not the worst thing in the whole world, I guess. Actually, I recommend it. Go ahead. Come to college undecided. Keep your options open. Take a year of incredibly random GEC's. Don't be the 18-year-old who has a strict definition of their future. Keep your options open... you never know what you'll discover, particularly in the first years of college.

As for me, I actually do have a reason for that pre-communications major. I have taken an interest in media in the past couple of years, and I want to hopefully get into the television business... a lot of changes need to be made in the media world right now, and although I might make an extremely insignificant difference, I figure I gotta give something a shot. And I've definitely discovered new passions and focuses for myself at college, which I might not have realized if I had been close-minded and set on a future plan.

I'm off to New York City on Thursday with the Communication Technology Scholars group... should provide for some interesting stories.