Xoxo, Paige

Between transferring out of SIUE in December of my sophomore year and going to the community college at home, switching my major and intending on attending another 4 year university... I somehow ended right back down at siue and soon realized that I was on the 5 year plan. Bleh. At first I was pretty bummed out about it. I felt like a failure. Then I realized, I'm still getting a degree, which is better than some can claim for themselves. And actually, I didn't realize that most people end up graduating in 5 years+ anyway. Graduating in 4 years means you have to complete 16 credit hours per semester. Not only can most people only handle about 12-15 credit hours per semester, but this also means the people graduating on the 4 year plan had to have known from their first semester what their intended major was going to be... and never change their mind.

When I got accepted to the School of Business, everything seemed fine and dandy. That is, until I had to drop my business calculus class which ultimately got me dropped from the School of Business. I would have to wait to re-apply until next year. I was crushed and felt like a failure because this pushed me even further back. I called my mom crying, "I wish I never would have even gone to college!" Her motherly advice ensured me that for me it was never an option to not go to college right out of high school. Which is so very true. As much as I'd like to be the next Bill Gates and not get a proper degree, it just isn't socially and academically acceptable to me to not get a degree in this day and age.

And although I don't need a degree to be an entrepreneur as I plan to be, going to college is definitely something that I know I won't regret. The friends I've met and the contacts I've gained are absolutely a positive attribute to my life and future career. My sorority has only boosted my involvement in philanthropies and success in academics.

My current plan? I switched back to a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration. The Psychology program is a lot less intensive and actually something that I enjoy learning about (screw business calc and managerial accounting). I was originally a Psych major and had switched because I felt that the job opportunities were limited. However, wanting to be an entrepreneur, that is pretty much irrelevant. All that matters is I am still learning and ultimately earning a degree. Additionally, I can still receive an MBA with a minor in Business if need be. I'm content.

And one last exciting thing, as it turns out I'm not on the 5 year plan after all. Switching back to Psych allows me to graduate in December of 2012, while my Business curriculum was going to have me here until May of 2013. #YESPLEASE

More soon.

Xoxo Paige