We all know the classic Golden Rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

You’ve probably been hearing it since elementary school. What if I told you that this was applicable to your college major? Finding a major that you love and are passionate about is super important. It’s not just about what you think you’ll be good at or what your parents studied. While looking at your skills and job security is important, I think it’s very beneficial to consider your passions and hobbies when deciding on a major.

 Your passions and your success go hand-in-hand. If you don’t enjoy what you study, you probably won’t be great at it. Giving it your all in your career is super important, and loving what you study is a huge part of that. Combining personal interests with your career goals is a recipe for success. If your work is related to the things that bring you joy, it will be much more purposeful and interesting. Learning about topics that interest you is a great place to start. Studying what you love will create positive energy in you that will help you excel in your schoolwork. It’s crazy how homework in the classes that you love doesn’t even feel like work.

If you’re having a tough time deciding on a major that you’ll enjoy, you’re not alone. There are always majors that are recommended to study, but my best advice is to dive into your aspirations and passions. The best person to help you pick a major is yourself. In my experience, I thought I was going to do what my parents told me to study, but I learned very quickly that it was my job to decide my own major. Even if you don’t pick the perfect major at first, there’s always time to adjust and learn as you go throughout your college career.

At the end of the day, it’s you who knows your own passions and what you love to do. I challenge you to dive deeper into them, and to use them to succeed in your college career. Whatever you choose to study, I hope you learn to love your major as yourself.

Be well, Auburn.

Photography: Maggie D.