Got drama? Dilemmas? Deep, dark secrets?

The Castleton Confidant is your anonymous advice guru, run by an Editor at The Spartan. Whether you need help, a fresh perspective, or just someone to vent to scan the QR code and spill it all. We’re listening.

How do I figure out what I want to do I’m a sophomore majoring in business but I don’t see myself in a corporate job sitting in a desk all day I want a job that makes a lot of money and that isn’t sitting on a computer typing or reading

-Confused Chameleon

Dear Confused Chameleon,

The first thing I want to tell you is that you are not alone. Seriously. Even people who seem totally confident about their major and their “future” are having these same doubts behind the scenes.

In my experience, and something that I will never shut up about, is often when one first gets to college, they might feel like you’ve got a decent idea of what they want to do in the “real world.” But as they move through college and especially as they inch closer to graduation, that big picture can get fuzzier instead of clearer. I guarantee if you asked a senior right now if they felt like this, they would agree.

There’s so much pressure to have your whole life figured out, and it doesn’t help that this pressure starts as early as high school. But you’re a sophomore. Trust me when I tell you that you have time, even if it doesn’t feel like it. You have space to explore, to try things out, to fail, to succeed, and to pivot. That’s one of the best parts of college.

My advice to you is to try and learn more about things you don’t enjoy doing, instead of trying to find the perfect niche in the endless business landscape.

I actually used to be a business major too, so I totally get where you’re coming from. And let me just say, business doesn’t have to mean “cubicle life” or endless spreadsheets. Business is everywhere. Think about it; art galleries, ice skating rinks, fashion labels, music festivals, gyms, coffee shops, tattoo parlors, wellness retreats, sports teams, the list goes on.

All of those places need someone who understands how to manage money, grow an audience, market their services, and keep things running. Every industry, every passion project, every cool little niche has a business side. That means your major can open a lot more doors than you probably realize right now.

I get that you want something dynamic, something that makes good money that doesn’t have you sitting behind a desk all day. That kind of job does exist. You just might not have heard about it yet, or you might not know someone who’s doing it. Try taking classes outside your comfort zone. Go to random speaker events. Talk to people with jobs that sound cool even if they’re not in your major. Sometimes you stumble on your “thing” in the most unexpected places.

I know it’s hard to feel confident when everything feels so uncertain. But trust me when I say that everything will eventually fall into place. Keep moving, stay curious, and give yourself grace. You’re doing better than you think.

Good luck Confused Chameleon. You got this.

– The Castleton Confidant