Shifting career paths is not an uncommon occurrence in college. As students explore passions during their studies, some find themselves drawn to other majors. Changing majors can be a tough decision for students, but Elijah Townsend-Awella and Jordan Joseph are confident and content with making a switch into the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication at Florida A&M.
Joseph, a fourth-year public relations major, was previously a criminal justice student who shifted her focus during her sophomore year.
Now a former Disney Storyteller scholarship recipient, Joseph says she made a change because she wasn’t excited with her studies when it came to her previous major.
“I knew that I was loving everything outside of school, but I found myself in criminal justice just feeling compliance. I felt like I wasn’t growing in my major and felt like I was going to work dead in my job.” Joseph said. “I instantly felt connected to journalism in general and j-school made me feel very at home. J-school is giving me the tools I need to move on successfully in PR.”
After gaining valuable insight from her internship this summer she firmly believes that she made the best decision for herself.
According to Ohio State University, “As many as 50 to 75% of all undergraduate students change majors at least one time before earning a degree.”
Multiple students switch majors in the hope of feeling more engaged and finding what they’re good at. SGJC has given multiple opportunities to help students gain a better perspective on their field of choice.
Townsend-Awella, a senior, is majoring in broadcast journalism. He also made the switch from criminal justice. He says after being introduced to 90.5 FM and developing a passion for radio reaffirmed his adoration for media.
“Even though my classes were majority across campus I would still come to j-school to see what everyone was doing because I thought it was cool,” Townsend-Awella said. “Seeing these students getting these internships and working with these companies made me not want to major in anything. I need to be on the radio station and in media.”
Their mutual passion for media made their transition from to communications effortless. SJGC provided them with hands-on learning both before and after they chose their life-changing career paths.
Now confident with how their lives will take course within media, the sky is limit.