I Can Do Anything

People sometimes ask me what I studied in college. I usually answer, “Um, not sure. A little of everything?” I graduated two years ago and I still don’t know what I want to major in. Three colleges, five declared majors, seven years and ten semesters gave me two degrees in General Studies.

As a child, I told people I wanted to be a mom. In middle school I wanted to be whatever I was presently doing: a ski instructor while in Vail (ha!), a mathematician while in algebra class, an author while reading Harry Potter. High school was a place to begin specializing my interests but I found myself enjoying English, chemistry, calculus and orchestra equally (I am not as big of a dork as that sounded). College only proved to further frustrate my quest for that “thing” at which I was to excel. My sister had art, my brother had his own business, and I had student loans.

At 27, even as a wife and mother and part-time employee, I often feel unaccomplished. I have peers that are lawyers and doctors, teachers and engineers. I am doing the same thing I did when I was 18, only now I have to call a babysitter first.

In the last few weeks, I’ve begun to discover that a college degree is not synonymous with a person’s identity and that being a wife and mother, while not financially rewarding, is a huge accomplishment and enormously important. Also, I don’t have to choose a “thing” if I don’t want to (I don't). During nap and Netflix time, I choose many things and hope to choose many more things as my babe grows and experiences his own academic crises.

My things, future jobs and hobbies, are, in no particular order and not limited to:

Art teacher

Elementary music teacher

High School English teacher

Homeschool teacher (maybe?)

Piano teacher

Pianist

Violist

Guitarist

Cook

Baker

Cake decorator

Seamstress

Collage artist 

2D artist

Graphic designer 

Interior designer

Window display stylist

Freelance writer

Blogger

Editor

Photographer

Screenwriter

Nutritionist 

Herbalist

Naturopathic Physician

Health food store employee 

Personal organizer 

House cleaner

This list is overwhelming and I have a tendency to attempt tackling eight of these at one time, but as a master of General Studies, I’m clearly qualified.