After trying out two different majors, my four-year plan was a mess. At this point, no one looking at my schedule could tell what I wanted to do with my future—and neither could I. My dream of one day looking forward to the “big kid” world of a stable job seemed to slip away into hoping I could make it to graduation changing my major less than ten times.

As I prepare to submit the first draft of my portfolio, I can’t help but take a look at what I’ve become. Before coming to Cedarville, I was a nervous wreck: I couldn’t handle the responsibility of becoming a full-grown adult. I’m doing all sorts of things that I had never pictured myself doing.

Many people have a hard time deciding what they want to major in. When I applied to Cedarville University, my problem was deciding what I didn’t want to do with my life.  Throughout my nineteen years, I have had a wide array of passions and dreams for my future. From a young age, I have had a proclivity toward writing, journaling, and creativity.

I have shed my share of tears over the grueling writing process. I have heard enough “this paper is vague,” “you have too many commas,” and “you’re not supporting your thesis.” No, I am past all that now. I got a 36 on the English section of the ACT and am ready for college. I take my first class, composition, and end it with an A. Finally, I can conclude: I am a good writer.

“It’s really important that you contribute to class discussions every class. ”Did I hear the professor right? It was my first professional writing class—Introduction to Professional Writing—and the professor was explaining that participating in class discussions was vital to achieving a good grade in this course.

“If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.” I’d heard this quote a million times but never felt like applied to me. I lived with the fear that I wasn’t on the path to doing what I loved. After many mental breakdowns, four major changes, and a lot of creative projects that I’m proud of, I’m happy to say that in three weeks I will graduate and find a job where I can do what I love and never have to work a day in my life. All because of PWID.