New Beginning

For this year, according to the one of the predictions for those born in the year of the Horse I saw while going around SM Makati, those who plan to change careers should do so in the month of March. It said something about March being the best time for such a life-changing shift.

Funny how in March, I will officially apply for a degree in Economics. Officially, I'm turning my back to Engineering, not only the course, but also the opportunities in the organizations I'm part of, and sadly, some of the people I've been with for the past two years as well.

This year has been a roller coaster for me. I ping-ponged back in forth, deciding whether I wanted a life as an engineer or perhaps something entirely different. One moment I wanted to become a psychologist, the next a sociologist. English Studies and Literature caught my attention for a certain period of time, before I finally settled with Economics.

Why, for goodness' sake, did I choose a course in Chemical Engineering in the first place? Well, I remember my train of thought going something like this:

1. I fancied Chemistry back in high school. In fact, I was one of the top students in the advanced class. Chemistry, to me, is a very interesting subject, that opens my mind to the many wonders of the world.

2. But then, I thought to myself that I didn't want to end up researching and conducting tests for the rest of my life.

3. Chemical Engineering offered such a lucrative career. It's been ranked as one of the top earners in American statistics; surely it holds somewhat true here in our country.

4. I read in Reader's Digest how this person took up Electrical Engineering and eventually became one of the head honchos of some large company. So I could still be a high-ranking executive of some company without taking up a bachelor's degree in business. [This was high school me. Please forgive.] << I think I blame RD for planting such a thought in my head haha!

Saying you want to be a Chemical Engineer is one thing, going through the classes and exams are another. I remember being so unmotivated to read the otherwordly textbooks, listen to newbie instructors and do the puzzling problem sets. Really, I was one of the honor students back in high school. I remember having fairly solid work etiquette. WHAT HAPPENED?

I really was miserable in that course - and plenty of my peers ARE as well. But, unlike them, I have the balls and privilege to shift at this point in the game. I do understand that shifting as a junior is quite late already. I'd graduate two years after my batchmates in high school do.

Still, I realized that the years it takes to finish a college degree do not matter. What's more important is how I lost myself in the confusion of dreams, aspirations and passions in life, and in the process, found out more about myself. That's one of the things college is able to offer - albeit easily overlooked amongst the grades, certificates and classes.

After all, life is all about getting lost, trying this and that out to see if I'd like it, and eventually finding that elusive something that I can finally say should be part of my life.

(P.S. I hope I find it in Economics hahaha!)