- Joined
- Dec 11, 2012
- Messages
- 808
Originally I was going to post this as part of another thread, but I felt like this deemed it's own separate thread.
A lot of kids come into college, particularly ROTC, with the mindset of what should I major in that will give me the greatest chance at job X in Service Y?
Instead, I think you should base your major on what you want to do. Picture a life AFTER the Service, or (and heaven forbid) if ROTC doesn't work out (medical DQ, not liking it, etc etc). What would want to do outside the Military?
Too many kids come into college saying I want to major in X, or Y. Which is great that they have an idea. But that's just it, it's an idea. They don't have an end goal in sight, they "think" they want to do something because it sounds good, or it makes a lot of money. It's more of a shallow/superficial reason, than a concrete/deep one.
Which of course, there's nothing wrong with that. But the trend I'm starting to see, especially in the STEM world (notorious in the engineering side of the house) is that kids drop their majors 1st semester of college. And I've thought about why this happens; trust me, I've had many a long nights to ponder this.
Personally, I think it comes down to lack of an end goal and motivation.
Prime example: engineering.
X: So, why do you want to become an engineer?
Y: Oh, because. I'm good at math and science.
X: Cool. Any idea what you want to do once you graduate?
Y: No.
Now, there's nothing wrong with both responses by person Y, let's get that straight. Plenty of kids come in with that mindset, and graduate as an engineer. But lets talk about the mast majority.
You see, a lot of kids don't realize that big differences between high school and college. Courses will become much harder, and a lot more effort is required to do well in them, where there's a lot more to juggle and time management becomes key to success. And again, that's sort of hard to comprehend until you've gotten there and done it.
Then you combine that with a lack of an end goal in sight and motivation, it can be real easy to say, "You know what, screw it I'm done. I'm going to switch to something easy." Believe me, there were a lot of nights that I felt that way ...
A lot of kids on my ROTC dorm floor started out engineering and quickly switched out as the weeks progressed, because of that formerly mentioned statement. Only a few of us remain today.
Personally, I think it comes from the mind and heart. It comes from the drive and passion that no one can give you, but yourself.
Believe me, it will get harder as you progress (especially engineering), and it wont get any easier out in the real world either. But, if you have that passion, the drive and dedication to see it through no matter how tough the going gets, you can do it.
As Travis Haley (well known & respected individual in the firearms community) put it, "The more you care about something, the deeper the fight will come from within." The more you care about the major that you choose, the more determination you will have to see it through all 4 years.
Personal example: I'm studying engineering because it's something I want to do after Army. After Army, I want to work in the firearms industry to develop and test firearms; to build exceptionally reliable products for the next generation of Warfighters, Law Enforcement Officers, and the responsibly armed Citizen. I'm all for the 2nd Amendment and guns; my passion resides with firearms. I've had a lot of looooonnnng nights, but for me this is my passion. And it was my passion that got me through. This is want I want to do.
Fortunately for me, I have some amazing relatives and some of the old timers here to help me come to grasp with reality.
And I hope this does for you too.
One last thing to keep in mind, this is just my own opinion based on my experiences and the things I've seen. I'm sure a lot of folks will agree and disagree with this. But I figured this was worth putting out there.
If anyone has anything to add, feel free.
Best of luck.
A lot of kids come into college, particularly ROTC, with the mindset of what should I major in that will give me the greatest chance at job X in Service Y?
Instead, I think you should base your major on what you want to do. Picture a life AFTER the Service, or (and heaven forbid) if ROTC doesn't work out (medical DQ, not liking it, etc etc). What would want to do outside the Military?
Too many kids come into college saying I want to major in X, or Y. Which is great that they have an idea. But that's just it, it's an idea. They don't have an end goal in sight, they "think" they want to do something because it sounds good, or it makes a lot of money. It's more of a shallow/superficial reason, than a concrete/deep one.
Which of course, there's nothing wrong with that. But the trend I'm starting to see, especially in the STEM world (notorious in the engineering side of the house) is that kids drop their majors 1st semester of college. And I've thought about why this happens; trust me, I've had many a long nights to ponder this.
Personally, I think it comes down to lack of an end goal and motivation.
Prime example: engineering.
X: So, why do you want to become an engineer?
Y: Oh, because. I'm good at math and science.
X: Cool. Any idea what you want to do once you graduate?
Y: No.
Now, there's nothing wrong with both responses by person Y, let's get that straight. Plenty of kids come in with that mindset, and graduate as an engineer. But lets talk about the mast majority.
You see, a lot of kids don't realize that big differences between high school and college. Courses will become much harder, and a lot more effort is required to do well in them, where there's a lot more to juggle and time management becomes key to success. And again, that's sort of hard to comprehend until you've gotten there and done it.
Then you combine that with a lack of an end goal in sight and motivation, it can be real easy to say, "You know what, screw it I'm done. I'm going to switch to something easy." Believe me, there were a lot of nights that I felt that way ...
A lot of kids on my ROTC dorm floor started out engineering and quickly switched out as the weeks progressed, because of that formerly mentioned statement. Only a few of us remain today.
Personally, I think it comes from the mind and heart. It comes from the drive and passion that no one can give you, but yourself.
Believe me, it will get harder as you progress (especially engineering), and it wont get any easier out in the real world either. But, if you have that passion, the drive and dedication to see it through no matter how tough the going gets, you can do it.
As Travis Haley (well known & respected individual in the firearms community) put it, "The more you care about something, the deeper the fight will come from within." The more you care about the major that you choose, the more determination you will have to see it through all 4 years.
Personal example: I'm studying engineering because it's something I want to do after Army. After Army, I want to work in the firearms industry to develop and test firearms; to build exceptionally reliable products for the next generation of Warfighters, Law Enforcement Officers, and the responsibly armed Citizen. I'm all for the 2nd Amendment and guns; my passion resides with firearms. I've had a lot of looooonnnng nights, but for me this is my passion. And it was my passion that got me through. This is want I want to do.
Fortunately for me, I have some amazing relatives and some of the old timers here to help me come to grasp with reality.
And I hope this does for you too.
One last thing to keep in mind, this is just my own opinion based on my experiences and the things I've seen. I'm sure a lot of folks will agree and disagree with this. But I figured this was worth putting out there.
If anyone has anything to add, feel free.
Best of luck.