The pursuit of my future. by Zoe

The pursuit of my future. by Zoe - March 2025 Scholarship Essay

When we’re young, we are asked what we see ourselves doing when we’re older, what careers we would like to pursue. We usually don’t have an answer, or we do and it’s something that’s not serious. By the time we’re in high school, we are supposed to have a good idea of what we want to do and how we’re gonna achieve that. My answer to this question is: I don’t know. I had always felt that I never knew what I wanted to do and was constantly changing my decision almost every few months to decide what I want to do and how it’ll affect me.
I am currently a high school senior in Baldwin Park High School who is going to attend Cal State Fullerton in the fall of 2025, majoring in Psychology. In the last month, I was transferred into an Early Childhood Development because I had dropped my pre-calculus, since it was stressing me out and interfering with my AP classes, which are my priority. I have taken a liking to this class and I hope that once I start attending Fullerton, I will be able to minor in Child and Adolescent Studies. I have thought about going into being a child psychologist. Knowing how I am, I feel like I will try and change my career choice halfway or even at the start of it. Psychology is a major I chose as a safety option, but after some research, it has become something I do think I will be interested in. I do see myself sticking with this major and minor because I do see myself working with children, if I don’t take the path into being a psychologist, I do believe I would become an elementary school teacher. I would like to stay in the field that requires working with children, although the pay is not as well, I do want to prioritize my happiness, even though I do believe money can buy happiness, but also the little things can make one happy.
I know going to Cal State Fullerton will change me as a person. Starting college means that I will have new responsibilities and new journeys to go on. Although I don’t have it now, I know during my college years I will accomplish getting my driver's license and begin the journey of freedom of being able to drive wherever I want. Knowing myself, having the ability to drive, I will take any chance I get and hang out with my friends, but also fit school into my schedule. I will try to make the most of it and enjoy it as much as I can with some friends that will also be attending, but I also know I will be very busy with my classes. As a current high school senior who has taken regular, honors, and AP classes, I know nothing will beat the workload they will give me in college. I have learned throughout how to manage my time and schedule. Even though I can’t completely follow through with everything I plan out, I can always find an alternative to work things out. I have slight confidence that I will be able to work out my four years at college well, as long as I know I have the resources available to me. I also believe I won’t only be spending my time studying, and that I will also be going out and having coffee/study dates with my best friend who is also going to attend Fullerton.
Finishing high school is scary, but finishing college will also be another type of fear I will feel. I know that going into college means you are finally an adult, but graduating college is when you become an adult. I will be searching for jobs, and hopefully my place where I can room with my favorite cousin. I know I won’t be getting a job right off the bat and will struggle, but I at least hope I can find a job that I want and will enjoy. Making money will be hard to do the first couple of months after graduation, and I will probably have to fend off my parents for a bit, and wait on that apartment with my cousin, but I know I will work hard to get the life I want.
So I guess to answer your question: I see myself being happy with having a job that involves working with children. I hope I won’t have to worry about money or living situations and be able to enjoy the line of work I will be doing. I say this in hopes that my future will be roughly how I describe it because a lot can happen in 10 years. I still have my whole life ahead of me and I can change my mind along the way, and I can come across obstacles I won’t be able to overcome easily. I don’t know what’ll happen from now on but I hope it’ll help me and benefit my future.