Somehow the word ‘undecided’ has suddenly gained as much infamy as Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter. I’m not sure why, but it seems like those students still unsure about their major feel their lack of direction is socially immoral, and downright blasphemous.

I beg to differ. Though the first few weeks of classes are the apexes for awkward introductions, and most people try to outdo each other with double majors and minors, college students being undecided is a far greater occurrence than any other major on campus. Perhaps it’s the endless possibilities that college offers. We find ourselves questioning every move, what classes to take, what credits to knock out and what professors to avoid.

Like many other students, I declared a major coming into college, but my decision in this future career seems just about as concrete as the ebb and flow of water on a sandy beach: constantly moving and unsure.

Truthfully, I’m pretty positive that many of us have no idea what we are doing half the time. Going to classes has been a habit since we could walk, and the essence of learning has been ingrained in our delicate minds. We’ve taken for granted the purpose college is supposed to be-lifelong friendships and the muscle memory of trying to make good decisions on a Thursday night-and have inadvertently pushed ourselves near a nervous breakdown trying to be career oriented. This path of choosing for the long haul seems relatively terrifying. I make an absolute statement that there are plenty of students who are enamored, punch-drunk love with their major. But I, for one, constantly feel there’s a blinking question mark over my head, painfully obvious for everyone to see.

Still, there is a social stigma that comes enveloped with the idea of being undecided. Our modern ‘American dream’ seems to be simultaneously intertwined with the idea of success and wealth, causing us to lose sight of the direction of doing what we love. Sure, we’re still driven by passion, but given the recent financial meltdown, who wouldn’t want a stable job with good pay.

Carina Engelberg, a junior television, radio and film major, says that even though she’s already had a little more than two years of the college experience, she’s still not 100% sure about her major. ‘It stresses me out, not knowing if this really is the career path I want to take,’ Engelberg said. ‘But half of what college is about is the unknown. Trying and trying, until we find a fit that’s perfect. I don’t know if I’ll find it, but, I’m willing to give it a shot for what it’s worth.’

Nevertheless, the financial pressure of declaring majors also comes into play. According to an August 2009 New York Times article, one freshman student was forced to drop out of the University of Washington before the school year began. This isn’t out of the norm; the financial stress students take on to help their parents save a couple of dimes forces them to quasi-select something they may potentially love, get a degree in four years or less, and hurriedly be stamped and ready for the real world.

I know the reality of future careers, and academic stability, is daunting. I’ve gone through sleepless nights wondering if success will ever be in the cards. For many of us, four years of trying to find out what we want to do for the rest of our lives isn’t enough. It’ll take a life time to play the cards that we’re dealt, but in the event that it does so happen, we must be alert enough to take the reigns and fight for what we love.

I think it’s time to embrace the indecision and the unknown. These students who still have absolutely no idea should realize that the potential in finding something they love is far greater than any gamble they may take. Part of the fun about college is the fact that we can make mistakes without the threat of the real world overpowering us, at least for now.

Angela Hu is a sophomore public relations major. Her columns appear weekly, and she can be reached at ajhu@syr.edu.

Published on October 4, 2009 at 12:00 pm