Insights for the typical young designer.

Guess what?

It's absolutely normal to have many doubts and hesitancies at the age when you are trying to decide what to do with your life.

Guess what else?

The future is not completely unyielding. It gives and takes and changes. We do the best to prepare for what life might have in store for us and what our initial plan is. However, what and who we think we are at the age of 17 or 18 is often different than who we find we actually are, looking in the rearview mirror at the end of our careers.

Sometimes we find ourselves doing amazing and wonderful things that we never expected and could not have possibly predicted or prepared for...

Agonizing over college majors is common. I know that it seems like no decision will ever be more important and that you will always be whatever you decide you are now. Chances are that you will start out in whatever field you choose as your major. Chances are also strong that you will not finish there. Life takes you places and gives you opportunities. The main thing is that you prepare to go forward.

I was happily a graphic designer for 17 years. Life then changed drastically when I was suddenly struck with a seizure at the age of 38. Surprise! I had been challenged with adult onset epilepsy. I decided to do something a little different after a great deal of thought and reflection and go into teaching. I started by teaching art to elementary school kids, and worked my way into a perfect job teaching high school graphic design and illustration. I would not have expected that I would ever be a teacher, to be honest. Life has a way of showing you the way.

I love the idea of having more opportunities lying ahead of me. I doubt that my career will end when I decide to stop teaching. It will change though. I welcome the chance to do other things too. I like the idea that I am capable of many things and that each one gives me unique chances to show myself and others around me that I can do a lot.

I wish the same things for my students who may be hesitantly approaching their college educations with fears that they may not be choosing the "right" major. Choose the major that feels right to you at this time in your life and research to be sure that it is an area with opportunity. If it has opportunity, then follow through without fear. Give yourself a chance to find yourself and don't be afraid of your future and all the chances you have to do many different things.

It is very rare to find people who work for one company and in only one field anymore. Most people can expect to make many changes during their working lives - and career flexibility begins with a quality core education and set of strong skills upon which to base future job options.

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