• You must at least know a thing or two about what is in store for you

Choosing a course in college can be metaphorically compared to selecting your starter Pokemon in GameBoy. You have to pick one among the many, the best one at that and the one that can ensure you victory in every battle in the form of either a gym badge or a crisp diploma. I vividly recall my 16-year-old self submerged in a sea of course catalogues and indecision. I had always dreamed of making a living out of producing and brainstorming over commercial ads. I had always dreamed of taking up Advertising. I also had occasional fits of wanting to become an anthropologist or a lawyer. But tugging me from the other side was reality; reality that temporarily lured me with the false promises of earning dollars and building snow men. That is when I considered Nursing. It was as painstaking as choosing among Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. They each had their strengths and the same time their weakness and infeasibilities.

I may have pursued Nursing as a degree and now as a career but joining in the bandwagon was never my reason. I chose my course not entirely because I wanted it, but because to my belief, it was the right one for me. Wanting something and something being the right thing for you are repelled into two different poles. I wanted to become an Advertiser more than anything, but I realize that beyond scanty witty ideas for a soft drink commercial, I got nothing. I also wanted to become an anthropologist, but to pursue the degree I must leave home and live alone for a while. Problem is, I can't and I would figuratively die due to homesickness. Nursing was never in my top course choices, but I realized I was built for it. I discretely love stress and I had the softer spot to heal, to care.

To the would-be college freshies, before you finally fill up those registration forms, try to ponder, reflect and consider the following:

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COURSE 101

If you tried Googling for reviews and non-spoiling synopsis of the Avengers movie so as not to possibly fall blindly to a hype and waste some 200 pesos, how much more enrolling in a baccalaureate course? Surely, you must at least know a thing or two about what is in store for you. So you like to be a Physician? Then you must at least know aside from the implausible thick textbooks you need to mentally digest every day, you will have to bear with this for at least 10 years.

MATCH-UP

If all people base solely on interest in making their decisions, we would all be screwed. I like chicken but I recently found out that I am allergic to it. Eating chicken may satisfy my cravings and will delight me in more or less a few hours or so but soon when the inflammation sinks in, I know that somehow I will regret eating it in the first place. So you like to be a Medical Laboratory scientist? But you are extremely phobic to blood. Unless you get over your fear then, it would be quite difficult for you to complete your training. Think about fainting every time you extract blood from a patient.

TEST THE WATERS THROUGH TESTIMONIES

Informational materials of course offerings may be as comprehensive and detailed but objectivity is just one loop of the rope. Gathering opinions of those who are actually enrolled in the course and even alumni can provide you a general picture of what to expect way more than just the curriculum and prospectus. Little things like OJT bloopers could go a long way.

And even if you rebut that shifting and dropping out courses are as easy as picking out peas, it will never be the same. Think about your parents who spent and gave away everything so you can pay your matriculation dues on time before shifting or dropping out, especially if you are just a semester away from graduation. I always had the belief that if you weren't able to take up the course you have always wanted to take, it is still not the end. There can still be redemption. Take me as an example. I love writing and thinking creatively and I wanted to delve on mass communications, on advertising but I ended up as a nurse. However, I find an option. I am writing for a newspaper. I work for an advertising site online. I blog. It is not much but at least I have a few things that is somehow a bit closer to the course I would have wanted to take.

Choose your course wisely.

Just as sensibly as you would select which Pokemon to fight against a Charizard.

Good luck in your enrollment.*

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