The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is as follows: do what you’re most passionate about.

Motivational words, right?

As our journey into the perils of being upperclassmen ensues, talking about the future is inevitable, yet easier if one considers this advice. The whole ordeal oddly feels like planning out your life for the next twenty years–it’s unpredictable and scary.

Now, I’m well aware that my generation is highly competitive, and by the time we graduate from college, the real workforce will have gained a new wave of intelligent and hard-working people.

Recently, I’ve found it difficult to find individuals who seek a major such as the Performing Arts or Creative Writing that is uncommon, that focuses on their interest rather than their financial dreams. More often than not, these interests are pushed aside when the following problems arise concerning the future.

Problem one: money.

With an increase in student debt, (the average debt at graduation in 2014 was around $28,950 according to a report by the Institute for College Access and Success), and a decrease in job availability (job openings decreased from 5.7 million in July to 5.4 million in August 2015 according to a Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), finding employment is a college graduate’s top priority, and that sense of urgency has begun to work its way down to the high school level. College is expensive, and parents are pushing that notion into their children’s heads so much that it has become a major factor when deciding what to major in and where to go.

But can we stop, and just forget about the financial implications? Yes, maybe down the road some may feel less inclined to undertake a career in what they thought would be “the one,” as it would not land them the largest annual salary, but many would rather focus on their passions early on and the financial problems later.

Problem two: “advice” from parents.

Parents can be both your biggest motivators and your largest setbacks. While they clearly have more experience with college and the real world, they may unintentionally hold you back. Instead of backing you up with whichever option you choose, they can end up pointing out all the flaws in your plans until you inevitably change your mind. While parental input is important, it isn’t everything.  

Problem three: uncertainty about dissatisfaction.

College is a large part of a young adult’s life. Spending that much money and time on classes that you didn’t even enjoy taking, however, seems pointless. My biggest fear is looking back on my life and feeling dissatisfied with the choices that I made. I’d much rather have taken classes that interested me than taken classes that would provide me with the most money in my bank account in ten years.   

Now I’m sure in two or three years I’ll be like the plethora of other college students who are considering making a switch in their major. Why? Because nothing is concrete–people grow, goals change and situations vary.

Maybe my parents were right–maybe I will regret my decision to major in Criminal Justice and follow my own dream in becoming a special agent.

But for now, let me dream of a life where I am happy pursuing my passion.

And let us, as students, cast away the idea that money is the defining factor, and that our parents know the right answer to every single question we pose. Furthermore, everyone is susceptible to feelings of regret, however, don’t let the uncertainty of your choices hold you back from doing what you’re really interested in.

So next time the topic of college comes up, welcome it with an open mind and the knowledge that only you will be living with the outcome of your decision, so you better make it count.