An update on my journey starting with my first article

Since our paths are not set in stone, as young adults, we go through changes. From writing my first volunteer piece for The Sheaf in my first year of university to becoming a staff writer, a lot has happened. I am in my second year with a new major and wanted to give an update in hopes that those of you who read my first piece back in that fateful January can get some insight into how that decision affected me. Those who are new to reading this can take a step back to listen to my story, and if so inclined, find my past piece online following this link:

https://thesheaf.com/2025/01/15/levels-of-life-discovering-new-passions-within-your-studies/

When I wrote the last piece, I was on a winding road in making a decision to change my major and acknowledging that I had a different passion. It was a tough transition, but one of the best choices I could have made for myself. Going from a Mathematics major to a Classical, Medieval and Renaissance studies major was a drastic change and even a shock for me. I went from working with numbers and symbols to reading Latin and studying history and religion. 

I did doubt myself more than I expected to when I switched majors. I felt like I was stepping away from something I had worked so hard to understand, and part of me wondered if I was giving up too easily. However over time, I realized that changing paths didn’t mean I was abandoning my discipline, but redirecting it. My motivation came back slowly as I started to connect what I was learning with the world around me. It was refreshing to feel curiosity again within my studies, rather than it feel like a chore.

While for some that can be a huge jump, for me it was one that not only made learning easier but my willpower stronger. 

Last year, I came to university with an ambition to study the sciences of the universe and learn how to tackle my love-hate relationship with math. I wanted to challenge myself to excel and grow.. I thought my passion was to study these topics and to learn how to reprogram my brain to look at patterns, but I discovered this was more of a hobby than a full-time passion. 

With this transition came many challenges, but each proved worthwhile. One was the copious amounts of reading assigned in all my classes. As an avid reader myself, this was a bit much. Given that I am a slow reader as it is, it was a lot to read in a short period of time. So I had to get into the groove of reading at a faster and more efficient pace. 

Another big transition that I thought would be stressful but turned out to be wonderful, was learning a new language. Out of all the languages that one can learn, I picked Latin. I was worried it would be something I would struggle with, but it turned out to be one of my favourite classes.

When I reflect back on that first year, I wish I could tell my past self a few things I only learned once I was deeper into my new major. For one, it’s okay to not have everything worked out. I spent so much time worrying about having such a perfect plan, like the right major and future, that I didn’t give myself permission to explore. 

I also wish I had known that connection matters as much as coursework. In my new classes, I began finding friendships through shared discussions and curiosity rather than just group problem sets. I also started to see that university isn’t simply about learning content, but about learning how to learn.

One of the hardest parts of changing my major was learning to let go of the expectations I had set for myself in high school. I had always pictured my university experience going a certain way, like staying in the same field from the start, following the same structure and coming out with a perfect linear story to tell. 

The truth is that growth doesn’t happen in straight lines. Letting go of that image was freeing, and it allowed me to see my education not as a checklist to complete, but as a process of discovering what truly resonates with me. 

Of course, change doesn’t come without moments of doubt. I often compared myself to friends who stayed in their original programs, watching them move through familiar courses while I was starting fresh. However over time, I realized that progress looks different for everyone. There’s no race, no universal timeline that defines success. Some of us take detours, and that’s okay. Those detours often lead us to places we never would’ve discovered if we haven’t had the courage to pivot and test the waters. 

I used to think that changing majors meant “starting over,” but I have come to see that learning builds on itself. The problem-solving mindset I gained in math still helps me in my research and writing. Critical thinking, structure and attention to detail aren’t limited to one discipline because they evolve with you. Realizing I hadn’t lost my foundation, but instead expanded it, made the transition feel less like a restart and more like a continuation of growth in a new direction. 

If I could give advice to anyone standing at the edge of change, I’d tell them this: You don’t have to have every answer before you take the first step. The fear of making the “wrong” choice can be paralyzing, but staying stuck out of fear is worse. Trust that you’ll learn what you need to do along the way. You will probably make mistakes, yes, but you will also gain insight, resilience and a deeper understanding of yourself. Changing paths can open doors you didn’t even know existed, and sometimes, the scariest decision turns out to be the one that brings you closest to who you’re meant to become.