My nephew is currently pondering over which part-time degree course he should take up when he finishes NS this coming June. Since he graduated from poly 2 years back, he has been talking to people and researching on possible options. I think he has the advantage of having more time to think over such matters (since he has to serve NS) as say compared to me who had to make a choice after the A levels (Ok that was a LONNNNG time ago.)
I didn't like science since secondary school days, so took "arts" subjects in JC. When applying for university, I remembered Biz Ad was a very popular option then. But I didn't have the slightest interest in that. I chose Social Work hugely because I was interested in that at that point in my life. I was very glad to be done with Math, Economics, Geography and Literature and was looking forward to reading Sociology and Social Work.
Now some (ok many) years have passed since I graduated and between then and now, I have worked as a social worker, crossed over to HR, got married, became a mother twice, stopped working and started freelancing as a workshop facilitator (er, roughly in this order). What was I going to say? Oh, I wanted to say with the work and life circumstances I have gone through, if I were to consider a course of study now, at this point in time, I would choose things I would not have considered back then. I would love to do language and literature (didn't like it then but like it now), or speech therapy or creative writing or even theology.
When you are 18 and faced with choices of study, your choice is very much linked to what you would like to BE (doctor, lawyer, accountant, teacher, banker, whatnot). But when you are twice that age, you've probably seen and experienced a bit more (in life) to consider this (very) differently. I think that's why we hear of people who abandoned their career for paths less chosen or for a totally different job.
My "aunty" advice to my nephew - there is so much we can take into consideration when choosing a course. The point is enjoy the academic journey and if your passion changes some years down the road, there is really no need to beat yourself over the choice you've made today. You are then at another exciting phase of your life - to make choices again.
