Ambition in Every Direction: Double Majoring by Sairaksha

Ambition in Every Direction: Double Majoring by Sairaksha - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

On Career Day, Mrs. Meyer asked my fifth-grade class what everyone wants to be when they grow up. Natalia scrawled Doctor on the whiteboard. Grant said Astronaut. Imran wrote he would like to become either a biologist or a doctor. After pondering my options for a couple of minutes, I wrote Teacher/Popstar/Marine Biologist/Artist/Detective/Lawyer. Mrs. Meyer chuckled to herself and patted me on the back, saying that she hoped that I could dabble in all my interests one day. Her simple belief that I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to, regardless of the ambitious nature of my answer, has driven me to always keep an open mind about many professions and the education they require. Years later, I remain the same, wanting to discover every opportunity possible. There’s so much I want to do and college, with its vast resources, seems the perfect place to explore my varied interests.
Though I am no longer as extreme in what I want my dream career path to be, I decided that I want to pursue social science– a perfect blend of the creativity and emotional intelligence required in the humanities sector and the analytical skills required in the sciences. Not being able to choose between all my options, I have decided to double major in Sociology and International Relations. These majors open me up to a variety of fields. I can become a sociologist and aid in research. I can become a policy analyst for either the government or private sectors. I can work in organizations such as the United Nations or as part of the U.S. Embassy. These careers allow me to satiate my interest in several subjects. As a rising college freshman, this is my next big educational goal: to accomplish a double major so I have wider access to potential career paths. My goal has many additional demands, primarily that I want to obtain a degree within the same 4-year time frame while also not burning myself out. As with many goals, executing my vision requires planning.
A key aspect of double majoring is that I have to take on a heavier workload. This means I need to take classes that are usually not recommended for incoming freshmen so I don’t need to graduate at a later time. My first action was to plan out all the lower-division courses I would need to take for the next two years so I could focus on my concentrations in each major during my junior and senior years. Next, I chose the best times to start fulfilling my general education requirements so I won’t be too overwhelmed each quarter. Luckily, some of my classes overlap for both majors so I don’t have to spread myself too thin. I also plan on working closely with my academic advisor to ensure academic success in my endeavors.
Though many students choose to double major, this is a lofty goal that requires immense commitment and time management. Despite the challenges, this goal brings me one step closer to my dreams of being able to delve into many career paths until I find what gratifies me the most. By achieving this goal, I am hoping several more doors will open for me so I have the privilege to pick and choose my profession. In the next four years, I want to make fifth grade me proud and let her know that I haven’t given up on wanting to partake in the infinite opportunities in the professional world.