I feel anxious whenever I encounter individuals who seem to have effortlessly discovered their life’s path without any major obstacles. All I can think is: “How have they managed to figure that out and why haven’t I?” I’m so jealous of everyone who already knew what they wanted to do in life when they were six years old. But maybe, that’s a little boring? But easy, right? And above all, convenient. When I was six years old I wanted to be a painter, then a pastry chef and then a politician but now it appears that I won’t make a career in any of these. Sometimes or maybe every other month I have a minor life crisis or perhaps rather an identity crisis and wonder if I have chosen the right education. 

When I meet an architect, biologist, historian or a philosopher, I can’t help but wonder if that’s what I should be doing. If you’re anything like me, struggling to find one specific thing to interest yourself in, you might find the concept of an American college more appealing. At an American college you get the opportunity to explore various subjects for two whole years while finding one that interests you the most. Personally, I would love to be able to explore many different things while finding my way to the subject that I want to major in. The structure of the Swedish education system, on the other hand, is very different. Here you fill the student’s head with a lot of information about one certain subject that the student has chosen at the beginning of their education. I often feel very restricted by this system because when you have chosen an education, you have to be 100% certain that this is the right path for you. And if you’re like me, that’s definitely not easy.

Sometimes, I think, us students, should be more encouraged to try out different elective courses. I mean, the worst that could happen is realizing it’s not your thing, right? When I started in Lund, I first took a course in social anthropology (very different from economics, I am aware). I ended up dropping it, but hey, at least I figured out it wasn’t my thing. Students should be encouraged to experiment and not be afraid of making mistakes. It is not the end of the world if you change your mind. And yes, I get it, the fear of piling up student loans is real. It’s not exactly a fun prospect.

Since I started studying in Lund, I’ve met quite a few people who have dropped out of their programs and started a new one. I can’t help but find it courageous and inspiring. I’ve even met people who have completed their entire program, only to start working and realize they wanted to do something completely different. Nonetheless the idea of switching to a new program seems quite terrifying to me, and the thought of completing my entire program only to realize it was wrong scares me even more. I just want to make the right choice from the beginning, but I know it’s not always that simple. 

However, no matter what happens, it’s okay to be uncertain about your choice of education. I stress about it from time to time but I try to console myself with the fact that the education I’m getting right now is not a waste of time. All that you’ve learned holds value, and there’s nothing but positivity in being well-informed and educated. And to be able to see yourself working with many different things, shouldn’t be viewed as a negative thing, it should only be encouraged. Another reminder to both myself and to you, is that students shouldn’t have to stress about choosing the wrong program or continuing a program just because they’re afraid of dropping out. Do what feels best for you! After all, not everyone can know what they want to do when they are six years old.