Krista's blog
Class of 2009, Business Major, from Escanaba, MI

Hello!
In continuation with what I was talking about earlier, it’s funny how different people view success and happiness. While I completely understand why money and passion are important, how do we find what truly makes us happy?

Think of it this way. Money doesn’t exist. Everyone is rich, can have whatever they want. What would you do in your life if you didn’t get paid? No need to worry about paying our debts, bills or rent. All we would really have to do is whatever we wanted. What would you do then? If you can answer this question, I would encourage you to pursue this endeavor. You will most likely have no regrets about your choice.
However, if you’re still unsure, it’s ok! Everything will be fine- if you don’t like what you are doing, you can always change it.

I feel like there’s way too much stress on picking a major. It’s important to have one, but after you achieve this, the main thing you get tested on is experience. So even if you don’t like your current job or your current major, just having the experience is a great thing. Plus, you need experience to find out your likes and dislikes. I actually read an article stating that college students experience a quarter-life crisis because of the stress of college and pursuing the future. Please don’t worry so much you go through a crisis! Just focus on what truly makes you happy. Then you can’t go wrong.

In my search for law schools I discovered that UW-Madison and Marquette don't require you to take the bar exam after you graduate their programs. As long as you live in Wisconsin, you would not have to take it! How cool is that? That's one more test I wouldn't have to worry about if I decided to apply to either school.

I also found out if I stay in the job where I'm at now (which I loooove) there are plenty of opportunities to move up the ladder. Plus, the girl that interviewed me is a St. Norbert alum and one of my bosses is also an SNC alum so that really makes me think positively about moving up there someday. It's so cool to see all the opportunities and paths you could take. Not one is necessarily the right or wrong path, it's pretty much just a choice, and if I keep looking at my life that way, I think it will be a lot easier for me to make my decision.

Hello!
It's been some time since I wrote! However, it has been one crazy month! I can't believe how busy it's been- one exam after another, but I'm so glad that those exams are over with!! :)

Anyway, let me just start by saying how supportive my family is. I feel like I could go to college, be $500,000 in debt with a degree, then five minutes later change my mind and decide I'd rather get a job where a degree isn't necessary and they'd be all for it! They really are amazing. However, I have not changed my major yet!!!! I know most of you don't know how amazing it is that I haven't, but, let's just say I've had about 5 majors since coming here so almost a full year with the same major is REALLY amazing. What's more amazing is I'm not sick of it! Well, some of the classes of course, but for the majority of them, I love them!

So this past weekend my parents helped us move into a new (and beautiful!) apartment. We were just talking about random things, when I decided to ask them if they could go to college again for anything, what they would major in and what their dream job would be.

My mom was a speech pathology major at Western University in Michigan. She loved it, but soon after, the major requirements changed and she couldn't really use her major for anything she wanted to. She now has a successful job working at home, and loves it. I'm so proud of her. She really gave up so much of her success just so she could raise 3 girls, and now she gets the best of both worlds! :) She told me is she could go back to school, she would go for audiology because she would love to help people and watch them grow.

My dad also graduated from Western University and was kind of like me in that it seems like he had a lot of different majors and to tell you the truth, I can't even remember which one he stuck with. Now, he is very successful as well, fighting crime and fires. He is an emergency management coordinator (aka a captain for our public safety department at home) and really started from scratch. Looking back, I remember going out to eat and celebrating whenever he got a promotion... and now that I think about it, it happened quite often. He is such a hard worker and really provided for our family. When I asked him what he would go to school for, he had quite a different answer than my mom. He kept saying things like a physical therapist, or a doctor, or things that seemed like they paid well. Then I told him he couldn't go by money, he had to pick something he's really passionate about, and he said teaching.

Just a small conversation really taught me a lot on how people view picking their life choice. My mom picked something that would make her happy, while my dad picked something dependable that he knew would make a decent amount of money. Two very different perspectives, but two very important factors in many peoples' lives.
More on what I learned later :)
Hope everyone had a great Easter!!!

There are so many decisions to make in life. I know how hard it is to come up with a major - after all, it is something we are going to have to deal with the rest of our lives. I think that's what scares me about deciding on one! :)
I think I'm sticking with business though. To me, you can pretty much do anything with that major. I'm working at a bank right now and I really love it. Everyone there is wonderful, fun, and really makes work enjoyable. I also am really enjoying my accounting class right now, which is another possibility. I wouldn't mind being an accountant- accounting seems like a puzzle to me. I also love love love to sing. It's something I'm very passionate about. However, realistically, there aren't any careers out there for people who love to sing unless you are either FANTASTIC or you want to teach. While I'm good, I don't think I am as awesome as it takes to make a career out of, and I already discovered I don't want to teach (one of my many majors)! So what in world do I want to do? Today? I want to go to law school. I'm very passionate about law as well and I think I would enjoy it because I want to help people. But on the other hand, do I really want to spend three more years at school, and move away from the area? Am I prepared to study study study for three more years? Can I afford it? Can I get in to any law schools? I guess we'll just have to see. For now, I think I'll take it day by day :)

Wow! I cannot believe all of this snow! It kind of feels like I'm living in the U.P. all over again!
Anyway, I hope the second semester of this year is treating everyone well. It's amazing to me how fast college actually goes. I feel like I just started, but the time just flies by (although, not when studying for exams, doing homework, etc.)!!!
I'm currently finishing the last semester of my junior year, and as you probably read, am majoring in business with a minor in music. Right after Christmas, I spent my Barnes and Noble gift certificate on (drum roll please...) an LSAT book. Horrible, I know, but I really want to be prepared for when I take the LSAT. As I'm looking through the book I got, I get really excited about my future. This part of my life is so strange to me because I have so many options. I guess I didn't expect all the possibilities that I could encounter while going through college. It's almost like being on top of a mountain. You can see everything around you. It's like you own everything you stand upon. You are powerful, confident, and excited to have made it to the top. As I get near the top of my mountain, I am starting to get excited about what I might see. What will the future hold for me.. and for you too? As you get near the top of your mountain, I hope you are proud of yourselves. It's such a stressful, tough journey, and once you make it, it will all be worth it. Don't let yourself stop climbing, keep pushing yourself even when it gets tough. The view of all your possibilities is going to surpass the climb.