Major Pathways by Benjamin

Major Pathways by Benjamin - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

The heavy thickness of my third version of this year's course catalog hits my desk with a thud. Each update to the course catalog triggers sleepless nights and future doubts as I meet with my advisor while feeling shame about my classmates' progress and my own difficulties in following the curriculum. My academic library books and study materials from aerospace engineering, geological sciences, and oceanography sit together in disorganized chaos that represents my internal struggle.

As I slide my finger down yet another list of degree requirements, calculating which previously completed credits might transfer to this new direction, my phone buzzes with a notification from the registrar's office: Students must finalize any major declaration changes by 5 PM tomorrow. The familiar panic returns as I feel the tightness in my throat but know that asthma isn't the reason this time.

Three major changes. Three occasions required me to explain my decision to restart my academic journey to disheartened family members. At twenty years old I've felt the crushing weight of not knowing who I am supposed to become, and it has hit me three times. The whispered comments from relatives at family gatherings sting: "Still figuring things out, huh?" Each shift in direction brings its own form of embarrassment because I watch tuition money spent on directionless courses while my graduation date becomes less certain.

The course "Major Pathways: The "Discovering Your Academic Purpose" illuminated the sleepless nights during which I struggled to understand my place in the world. The course confronts the reality that students change their majors repeatedly while making critical decisions with inadequate information. In this course, students learn directly about various careers by participating in two-week modules that represent all academic fields while preventing students from developing preexisting idealistic views.

The "Major Pathways" program enables students to explore different academic fields using two-week investigation modules. Each module required us to complete short practical projects that mirrored real-world professional tasks. The business module allowed students to examine the marketing techniques adopted by local businesses.

This section enables students to use basic engineering principles to design simple structures. Humanities students would examine historical influences on modern policy while science students would conduct actual laboratory experiments beyond classroom theory.

The curriculum transcended simple knowledge exploration by offering students structured ways to discover themselves. Students received mentorship through collaborative sessions led by faculty members and advanced students from all departments to learn both major content and work experience in their fields.

Students in the environmental science module discovered ecosystem principles by collecting water samples from polluted streams at dawn while they felt happiness from finding solutions and sadness upon seeing environmental destruction.

The weekend fishing trip in the forest my grandfather and I loved led to my life-changing revelation beyond any classroom setting. My grandfather began taking me to this natural location when I was seven to share tales about the tall oaks which watched his weekend visits. But this morning, something felt different. Wrong.

The once crystal-clear stream now flows with muddy brown water that no longer reflects the sky. The trees my grandfather remembered from his youth stood skeletal and dying with bare branches reaching toward skies filled with pollution. A voice of unfamiliar grief whispered to me about the differences between his childhood and the present. I realized we both shared the experience of seeing something valuable end. I realized that studying the subject was necessary to achieve personal growth and make beneficial changes for others.

I consider Environmental Science essential for survival since its importance remains critical. This mindset drove me to this scholarship application where I stand as both a student and someone who knows persistence is key during uncertain times. I have chosen to pursue a bachelor’s degree in environmental science because this path makes logical sense for me to achieve significant long-term effects. The completion of my mission will be achieved when my actions result in the transformation of any single part of our planet.

My three primary academic shifts resulted from my quest for significance instead of mistakes during uncertain times. Students who face academic uncertainty need stable guidance instead of having to randomly select their major through trial-and-error methods.

This scholarship will be an investment in not only me, but the community as well as it supports my education which serves as a direct contribution toward society's future development. Our community becomes powerful when we work together to protect natural resources with our interconnected support system.

The experience of fishing with my grandfather in the forest direct my efforts to assist communities achieve environmental improvements. The memories which shaped my commitment to environmental protection will drive my efforts to build a sustainable future for future generations. I hope you take the journey with me.