For some students, declaring a major can feel less like a personal decision and more like a balancing act between passions, job security and the voices of family and friends. Skye Bawol | The Washtenaw Voice
Balance interests, job market, avoid pressure
Sofia Oganezova
Staff Writer
For many college students, declaring a major can feel less like a personal decision and more like a balancing act between passions, job security and the voices of family and friends. At WCC, advisers see that tension play out every semester.
“It’s less about following your passion and more about finding where your passion meets demand,” said Kordilia Noble, director of WCC’s Center for Career Success. “I call it turning your happy hobby into a profitable profession.”
Devin Streur, a student adviser at WCC, agreed that one of the biggest pressures students face is the expectation of financial stability.
“Parents will often insist that students don’t follow their passion if their passion leads them to more artistic, social science or humanities majors,” Streur said. “Our role as advisers is to help them figure out how to leverage those majors intentionally—so that it’s not just about following classes they like, but also gaining clarity about what it means to study that major well and use it toward employment.”
While friends may influence which classes students take, the weight of expectations most often comes from family, Streur said.
“The peer pressure of choosing a major really does more come from parents and family expectations,” Streur said. “A lot of it can be cultural. In some cultures, listening to your parents is just what you do.”
Noble echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that students should balance respect for family with their own goals.
“Family influence can really make an impact on a student’s decision to choose a certain major,” Noble said. “But you have to look within yourself and think about the bigger picture—where you’d like to see yourself 20 years from now.”
Cody Stedman, a journalism student on WCC’s three-plus-one transfer track with Eastern Michigan University, said he felt those pressures firsthand.
“Personally, my parents don’t want me to waste a lot of my time at a four-year college knowing tuition prices, book prices and really anything else related to it,” Stedman said. “But I was able to ease their fears when I signed up by finishing a three-year track at Washtenaw.”
Though his parents expressed caution, Stedman said they respected his choice.
“I don’t believe anyone tried talking me out, knowing that my parents do realize that I’m a legal adult and this is the decision I want to make,” Stedman said. “But at the same time, they still want to give me guidance, and I appreciate them as much as I possibly can for it.”
Stedman’s approach boiled down to practicality.
“In a nutshell, I don’t like college,” Stedman said. “My parents don’t like college. But I know it’s necessary.”
A newer pressure is the rise of artificial intelligence and its disruption of the job market.
“Students, parents and even older workers are starting to ask whether certain jobs can survive in a world of AI,” Streur said. “I had a guy in here this morning who’s had two jobs eliminated from AI. He’s coming back to retool. It’s top of mind for a lot of students.”
To help students navigate these pressures, WCC’s Center for Career Success offers support long after graduation.
“We offer lifetime services for all students and alumni,” Noble said. “That includes job search strategies, resume and cover letter development, mock interviews, internships, apprenticeships and career assessments.”
Those assessments, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory, can help students identify careers that align with their personalities and strengths. Noble also encourages students to explore labor market data.
“Labor market data really gives a clear, evidence-based picture of what’s happening in the job market,” Noble said. “It helps students make better decisions about their career goals.”
Changing majors is common, but Streur warned it can come with consequences the longer a student waits.
“It’s very easy to change a major if you change your mind, but the impact becomes greater the more classes you’ve already taken,” Streur said. “That’s why we often suggest students start with general education classes if they’re unsure–it buys them time without closing doors.”
Ultimately, both Noble and Streur agree: the key is finding balance.
“Find where your passion meets demand,” Noble said. “If you can do that, you’ll be perfectly fine.”
