I’ve always said I am not just one thing, and therefore I don’t want to
do just one thing. I am so interested in many things, things that are all pretty different from each other; I’m an artist in many different ways. First and foremost I consider myself a deep thinker, and I observe and analyze EVERYTHING, all the time.
I’ve done a lot of thinking lately, as to be expected from a college student. And I have (finally) come to some conclusions. There is still so much to be contemplated and reflected upon, and it will always be changing and growing. But this is what I have come up with so far.
A couple months ago an idea popped into my head that I would enjoy, and be really good at, sex/relationship therapy. I am concurrently taking Human Sexuality and Social Psychology. This idea came about when I observed how much they overlapped, and how much I was interested in everything to be said about the subjects. I found myself so engrossed in the subjects, thinking about what I already knew, and so eager and intrigued about what there is still to know.
Thus, I have decided to change my major (from acting for theater) to psychology. Since this major is not offered at my current school, the option that makes the most sense is to go to Parkland [the community college in C-U]. At this time the plan is to go to Parkland for two years, then transfer to a four-year university, most likely U of I, but that’s not set in stone.
I feel like I should address my views on acting, since I am (for the first time since I was six) deciding not to focus on it. This does not mean I will not pursue it; quite the opposite actually. I just feel like, since I want to be more than one thing (and since it’s smart for actors to have back-ups), why would I get a major in something I don’t NEED a degree in to do, when the other thing/things I want to do I WOULD need a degree in? Especially here, paying
so much money for a non-necessary degree seems silly to me.
I love acting, so very much, but when I do it I feel like I’m doing it for myself. This isn’t a bad thing, but I’d like to do something where I’m helping people-and yeah, people would argue that performance helps people, and it does, but I’m the kind of person that needs to see the results, directly- and in therapy I feel I would see the results a lot more directly.
I am not trying to devalue acting majors, and this shouldn’t be confused with me “not being passionate” about acting. This is not true. It’s just that a part of why I felt disconnected to the major is because I want to do film, and I could only major in acting for theater.
Another thing that I’m craving is just to feel more educated. I want to be a well-rounded person, and be challenged to really think about things. I feel like psychology will do this for me, will be a good first step towards this.
I am very excited about this decision, not only because I get to go home [and have a double bed again! ;)], but also because I now get to do
both acting and psychology.
