Why are you here? Most students have no clue why they are at ECC.
According to Van Nguyen, career counseling adviser, the largest major on campus is the undeclared major.
Students who do not choose a major may find themselves taking a load of unnecessary courses.
Heather Yamamoto a public relations major, previously undeclared said, “I decided on public relations my second semester at ECC. I have always known I wanted to have something to do with business. I wanted to go into business, but I did not want to be stuck behind a desk. As a public relations major, I can interact with people and work with them. I know that’s what I want to do.”
The average student changes his or her major three times before finally deciding on an appropriate major.
Interest in more than one subject may not necessarily be a bad thing said Scott Klouda, broadcast journalism major.
“I had always had a major interest in sports and writing. I felt that putting the two together would be a perfect way to make a living as a sports broadcaster. I knew that this was something I wanted to do my sophomore year in high school,” Klouda said.
Statistics show that planning a major as early as junior high leads to academic stability and job security.
“When I was 14, I started doing home videos. It was bootleg at first, and then I got a job for a magazine doing videos and audio set up. Ever since then, I loved doing it and want to go further,” Christian Troncoso, a video production/ editing major, said.
“The key to choosing a major is to do something that is long term and enjoyable,” Nguyen said.
Katie Duhe , child development major said, “I chose child development as my major because I have always had a love for children. I love the fact that one person can impact the life of a child. Ultimately, I would like to work for a child care facility focusing on infant care. I know that I do not want to open my own facility. I would really like to work with developing infants. I think this career would help me in the future when I have children of my own someday.”
The Career Center offers a “Choosing a Major Workshop” every Wednesday in Room 106.
The workshop helps students identify their interests, skills, personality characteristics and long-term goals in choosing their major.
Students who attend the workshop meet with a counselor and receive career assessments.
Students will also be involved in group interaction that helps in the decision making process when choosing their majors.
“I think it is very important for students to attend the workshop. Sometimes students do not always know what exactly it is that they want to do. Many students have their parents decide on their major. Ultimately, the decision is the students,” Nguyen said. “This is a long-term decision so students should be sure. Hopefully through attending they will have a clearer direction in what they want to do and want they don’t want to do.”
