Pre-Med--A Painful but Necessary Experience

When I looked back on my freshman year, I struggled with the idea that I wasted 13 hours of classes. I was a pre-medical major, and the biology and chemistry classes mean nothing toward my major. It means I cannot double major, add a minor, or apply to the business school at the same time as the other students.  All of the information that I slaved over for months was now irrelevant to my education. I figured that I did not learn during my time as a Biology major.

I could not be more wrong.

These are the things I used to say to myself when I decided to switch majors. Now, I see it through an entirely different lens.  My freshman year, I worked harder than I ever have toward a subject in school. I had long nights of studying, early mornings of studying, and more studying.  It was brutal, but it was what I thought I wanted to do with my life, so I stuck with it. I told myself that if I worked hard enough, I would succeed. Little did I know, if I put this same hard work toward a subject I loved, I would achieve much greater results.  After switching into different classes, I still put in the same amount of hard work, and the results are unbelievable. My entire life changed. I began building new relationships, smiling more often, and building identity capital. I joined a few clubs, adding to my resume the things that exemplified who I was as a person.  This is the section of my resume that will make the biggest difference.

I could not be happier.

Looking back at the science courses I took, I realized I built a skill no textbook could teach me—hard work. When I apply the hard work toward something I truly love, the results are beautiful and impressive. A few weeks ago, I attended a Neeley seminar on Entertainment Marketing. I absolutely loved it. The speaker had students walk to the front of class and role play meeting a famous person. She developed our personal communication skills and focused on the small details that could make or break a first business meeting. I love this. I thrive off of an interview setting, using my charisma and personality to engage with a person. She made us work with a partner and treat them as if we had two minutes to impress him or her. I focused on my handshake, keeping eye contact, and asking genuine questions with an honest tone. I thrive off of learning how to engage with people on a deeper level.

After the seminar was over, I figured I had finished learning. I was wrong. Afterwards I spoke to the speaker for an additional thirty minutes, and she asked me questions that make me think. She wanted to know what I wanted to do with my life and why I wanted to do that with my life. I loved it! I was able to work on my communication and interviewing skills, and I felt like I walked away a better applicant for an internship next summer.

Every time I leave seminars like these I am reassured with my switch from pre-med to business. The business environment is where I thrive and opportunities to improve my skills and connect with people give me energy. I am constantly reminded of what I learned as a pre-med student, however, and I am thankful for the experience. Pre-med pushed me to work hard and allocate my time accordingly. I truly believe that if I started in business I would not have the work ethic I have today. The business environment requires someone to be innovative and a hard worker, and pre-med gave me those skills. Sure, the hours of classes will not add to my degree, but the idea of never having to deal with a hydrocarbon again puts a smile on my face.