Virginia Tech is so much more than an engineering school. The disappointing thing is I can’t shake the feeling that those of us who aren’t engineers forget that. Last week I was talking with a history major, and he was telling me how unhappy he was with the department of history and its inability to meet his expectations.
I have heard similar verdicts from people of other departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and my reply to them is always the same: either you are in the wrong program for your passions, or you simply are not taking advantage of the program you’re in. It saddens me that not everyone realizes all the things their major, their professors, this university has to offer.
Of course, the most important thing is to make sure you’re in the right program — that you’re working towards a degree that will give you the skills to go after what makes you happy. All of us hear this, but many of us don’t actually listen. Too many of us are struggling through one program when our passions beg us to struggle in a different one. Our parents tell us things will get better if we can just jump through all the hoops and make it to grad school, somehow manage our way into the real world. But if you ask me, if it’s not making you happy now, it won’t make you happy a year, five years, 10 years from now, or the for the rest of your life.
Think about what you’re doing. You’re free to push yourself to get a degree you don’t want but that you think you need. But after you read this, don’t ever say someone did not tell you to really consider if what you’re working toward in undergraduate or graduate school is what will make you happy.
The bottom line is, you shouldn’t be afraid to change what it is you’re doing. What you’re doing now is going to affect the rest of your life, so you might as well do yourself a favor and not settle. Find what makes you happy — not your parents, not your advisers, not your professors, what makes you satisfied and excited with your life.
For those of us who have found the program that works for us, it’s our responsibility to make sure we’re taking full advantage of it. We owe it to the university and the community to do so.
Most importantly, we need to talk to our professors. It can be scary and intimidating to engage with the people who, for the semester, are the experts in what we’re studying. But, setting up times to talk with your professor about the class, what they’re researching, the program you’re in, even to chat can many times be more rewarding than just sitting through lectures.
If you’re lucky, you’ll get to know your professors well enough to set up independent studies where you can focus on exactly what interests you. Professors are the best untapped resources on this campus, and they have so much support to offer us. You’ll be doing a disservice to yourself and your education if you don’t take advantage of them.
We need to research all that our majors have to offer us. Does your department have ties with volunteer opportunities in the community or on campus? Does it offer exclusive competitions that give chances to win honors and scholarships? What about study abroad programs? What kinds of careers do alumni who graduate from your department end up with? What specializations do the faculty in your department represent? Does your department have its own club? Every one of us should be able to answer every single one of these questions, but how many of us really can?
Aside from academics, Tech is home to hundreds of student clubs and organizations. If you can’t find one that suits your interests (which would be surprising), then start one. Clubs are outlets for students looking for all kinds of opportunities, studying, playing sports, talking philosophy, gaming, helping people in need in the community and the world, learning to become activists, you name it — there’s a club. It’s never too late to join something that could possibly be fun and satisfying to whatever motivations you have.
Education is what you make of it, and if you are experiencing misery during your time here, I urge you to not blame it on the university or its programs. Every Hokie should take full advantage of the wonderful opportunities Tech has to offer, don’t let them slip by.