Why must a 17-year old decide what they’ll do with their life? What makes us think that life shaped that person enough to know the path to take?
You can argue that a 17-year old doesn’t need to decide. They always can change their path. Choosing a major doesn’t mean they’ve chosen a career.
In the world of job search, would-be employers always want to know what someone did in college. What projects did you work on? What were your goals? Does my company help you achieve those goals? It’s track-oriented. Major leads to projects leads to career (in that example).
It’s also possible that a college student chooses a path that interests them then; but experiences the second order effect of not being able to find a role later in life. Perhaps they majored in something like “music.” Yes, I’m biased.
I am critical of the education and job market. I don’t believe (yet) that education prepares students to learn how to learn, improve decision-making, and/or build a life and career. I don’t believe (yet) that recruiters and hiring managers know how to free themselves of outmoded thinking about resumes and college majors.
I’m 40 something years old. I have more interests now than I ever did as a college freshmen. I have no degree and a job that meets my needs. I’m in the minority of people who can make that happen. But why must it be that way?
