…how I picked my major?
My current, and I believe it to be my final, college major was selected by the universe by way of my deciding to quit the notion of ever having a degree from a college.
One day, after my business class – and probably during premenstrual weakness – I decided that attempting a degree in Business was a waste of my time because, well, I did not plan to ever return to the working world – not the conventional one anyway. My big plan in that moment was to finish the semester, find a job at Disneyland and live out the rest of my days working part-time for the Mouse (thus, returning to the working world). I wanted to spread joy and help people while having permanent access to the Magic Kingdom.
I went on-line, search Disney employment, and scrolled through the current job listings: Guest Research Specialist (the survey person you avoid at the end of your day in the Park), Reservation Sales Agent (cheerful providing your dream vacation, or a seat at the Blue Bayou), Project Manager – Costuming Systems… positions like those. Meh.
And then I saw it: Procedures Writer.
If you knew me, you’d know that I am very skilled in putting together procedures manuals – simple and complex – to help others walk through new programs and systems. I’ve been doing it for years as a minor role of every position I’ve ever held. I thought, “That’s a job I can do.” Then I reviewed the requirements. I thought, “I could do this!” However, under the Education heading, Disney requires a Bachelors’ Degree in Technical Writing, English or Communications for this position.
I experienced a moment of clarity that I have experienced rarely in my lifetime. The world slowed to a stop, the clouds parted, a beam of light shone down from the heavens…
Well, those things didn’t actually occur in reality, but they did occur in my heart. Suddenly, I KNEW that being an English major was the direction I probably should have headed all along. And now it was time.
I went to my community college website, I pulled up the class requirements to obtain the AA portion of my new direction, and I wrote down all the classes I still needed to complete this portion of my education.
I have to tell you, I’m pretty excited about it. I enrolled in Creative Writing, Introduction to Mass Communication, and Geography for the Spring semester. I know that I can use this degree and the experience from it for so many different avenues in my future.
And Disney? Disney will just have to get along without me for a little while longer.