Amy Foster, Associate Director, Office of University Communications

Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa

STORM LAKE, IOWA — Growing up, the number of careers I wanted changed almost each year I entered a new grade level in school. First I wanted to be a teacher, then for the longest time I wanted to be a doctor. It wasn’t until my eighth grade English class that I settled on my calling in life.

From a young age I was always intrigued by books and writing stories, but it wasn’t until the age of 14 that I realized I could possibly "tell stories" and get paid for it in the journalism field. My goals were always set high throughout high school, and I made sure I took every writing opportunity that came my way.

Because I had a relatively good idea of what I wanted to do, I picked out several colleges that had strong journalism programs. And even though the research I did was well thought out, I ended up picking the college best suited for me for a number of reasons beyond just the academic programs offered. There were many other things I took into consideration, such as distance from home, layout of the campus, dorm life, class sizes, etc.

The last year of high school can be a tough time for many students; you have to make hard choices about what you want to do with a good chunk of your life after you leave behind your parents, town and high school friends. Students also run the gamut of being positively set on what they want to do or find themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum having no ideas at all. Although at times this might seem frustrating, just because you are not sure what you want you want as a possible career, doesn’t mean you will be doomed going into college.

As a senior in college now, I never thought these past four years would go this fast. And even though I came in certain of what I wanted to do with my life after college, I now find myself more willing to experiment and seek other career-related options.

The best thing I ever did was challenge myself to take courses I really wanted to take, even if they were outside of my major. Some students just go through the motions and take courses to fill General Education requirements; however, I decided to take classes that I had some previous knowledge or interest in, such as Sociology and an Intro to Women’s Studies classes. If I had just gone through the motions and not taken extra classes that interested me, I would never have found my interest in Women’s Studies and declared it as my minor.

It’s also important for students to interact with others outside of their classes. A rewarding way of doing this is for students to become involved with extracurricular activities. I found out a lot about myself and what I want to do by the activities I became invested in during college. I continued my ambitions of being a writer by getting involved in my college’s campus newspaper the first week I stepped foot on campus. Through my involvement with this organization, I molded and shaped my writing, and I’m certain I wouldn’t have the writing or interpersonal skills I have today if I hadn’t taken that chance.

My main piece of advice for graduating seniors would be to stop worrying. Secondly, I want to reassure you that most students don’t know what they "really" want to do for quite some time. College is a time to explore and for students to take advantage of opportunities to become hands-on in classes and extracurricular activities.

You don’t have to have a set plan for your life going into college. Answers to all of your questions will come with time, and chances are your professors, classmates and roommates will be there to help support and guide you through the next four years of your life.

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This series is a free service of Buena Vista University. Founded in 1891, Buena Vista University prepares students for successful careers as well as leadership and service in their communities. With approximately 1,300 undergraduate and graduate students on its main campus in Storm Lake plus an additional approximately 1,500 students at 16 branch sites throughout Iowa, BVU offers a balance between traditional liberal arts courses and innovative experiential learning opportunities that require the practical application of knowledge. Long a leader in information technology, BVU is currently at the nation’s forefront in providing "anytime, anywhere" online access by creating a campus-wide wireless network and providing its students with notebook computers.