Tufts Blogs

There are a plethora of people in this world who end up in a career pathway completely different from their major. I am one of those people, and this isn’t because I chose the "wrong" major but rather because my Tufts experience has helped me discover a passion that lit me up in a different way. Yes, you would expect a Community Health major to go into the field of public health; however, that’s not my case—my interests lie in student affairs.

I chose to major in Community Health because it was genuinely fascinating to me and felt applicable to my own life. Studying how our built environments influence things like educational attainment and well-being actually helped spark my interest in a field outside of public health. Shifting my mindset from simply completing coursework to actively learning and applying concepts helped me see my passions through a new lens.

It’s also extremely crucial to note that your major isn’t your entire college experience. For me, my major’s academic work, leadership roles in clubs, and part-time jobs complemented each other. All of these pieces and more work in tandem to mold my professional interests. My coursework provides frameworks for understanding systems of equity and well-being and my leadership experiences allow me to apply those concepts. These opportunities helped me see how my learning extends beyond the classroom.

In my work at the Asian American Center and FIRST Resource Center, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with students and communities in ways that connect to the themes I consistently learn about in my Community Health coursework, such as community organizing and equity. Even my role on the TCU Senate has allowed me to apply those same principles when advocating for students and pursuing projects that would improve student life across campus.

Working in these roles has shown me that the skills and insights you gain in college, whether through your major, student organizations, or campus leadership, often intersect in ways that might surprise you. What I’ve learned outside the classroom has been just as important in shaping my interests as what I’ve studied inside the classroom. This realization helped me understand that your major doesn’t tie you down into a single pathway; it provides a foundation that you build upon to explore directions that might not have ever occurred to you.

I was initially very worried about not knowing what I wanted to major in because I thought that I would be stuck in that field. Majors provide you with knowledge and structure. They don’t determine your future. Only you decide what you do. So if you’re someone who feels unsure about your future career but pressured to pick a specific major, you’re not alone. College is the place where your passions take shape, and it gives you the tools to pursue just that.