Listen HereBy: Kaleb Brown, Writer
Twitter: @JuicyKcan
Email: brownk8@findlay.edu
Coming into college knowing exactly what you want to do and graduating in four years seems ideal when you’re 18, at least it did to me. Little did I know I would eventually transfer, switch majors, and choose a different career path to pursue.
When I got out of high school, I thought I had it all figured out. I wanted to go to IU and become a physical therapist. While making the decision on what school I wanted to attend, I ultimately changed my mind and ended up going to a different school to continue my swimming career.
My junior year of college, I transferred here to the University of Findlay to continue my swimming career and to pursue the physical therapy program. Not all of my credits transferred from my old school. Upon arrival, I also switched my major to healthcare management. Making this transition set me back an entire school year.
Finishing a bachelor’s degree in four years is definitely an achievement if you are able to do it. Knowing your plan and sticking to it right out of high school at the age of 18 is a blessing.
I don’t believe that at the age of 18 you are supposed to know what path you want to take in life. As a fifth year senior now, I would say going through college definitely helped me to decide what I want to do with my life and what career I want.
I also learned that as you go throughout your college career, things might happen that you might not expect that may require you to make a decision. Maybe your dream school wasn’t all it was hyped up to be, or maybe you decided that you don’t want to stick with the career path that you originally chose. This is normal. A part of college is finding your true self and figuring out how you want to live you life.
University of Findlay student Jacob Blevins is a third year senior and also a former student athlete. Blevins credits his work ethic as the reason why he will complete his degree in less than four years.
“I think the biggest thing is definitely your drive and work ethic,” he says. “There had to be a hardline between work time and free time. Once you decided that you were going to get work done, then that’s what has to happen.”
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 59% of students completed their degree on average within six years in 2015.
Just because you aren’t able to finish your bachelor’s degree in four years doesn’t mean that you did your college experience wrong. Be grateful and take advantage of the extra year(s) of growth, learning, and just another year of college to be in the atmosphere and with friends.
College is the time to find out who we truly are and what we are destined to do with our lives.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2017). The Condition of Education 2017 (NCES 2017-144), Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates.
