Most people contemplate changing their degree or career at least once whilst in college. I definitely have! Some believe their chosen degree aligns perfectly well with their goals, while others change their degree halfway into the year or switch to a completely different career path after graduating. In all honesty, the expectation that one must have their life figured out by the age of 20 seems quite frightening to those of us who don’t. This article is therefore for all those individuals considering a change in their degrees or careers but finding themselves hesitant to take the first step.
I recently participated in a three-week long course on wildlife conservation in the middle of a jungle in India and learnt so much more than I could ask for. I also made some great friends there. One of them was my mentor, Deepa. The reason I mention her is because Deepa used to be a confused 20-year-old like many of us, before completely changing her career after graduating college. She was all set to become an architect and work in the city. Her inclination, however, had always been towards the jungle. It was only during her final year internship that she realised architecture was not the field for her. Deepa now works in wildlife tourism as a naturalist for the Pugdundee Safaris in India. She spends all her time at the camp, knows almost everything about any animal, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with guests whenever she can. Yes, it does sound perfect, but this shift in her career has not been all that easy. This article serves as an insight into how Deepa dealt with the challenges that come with such a change.
“In quite a few cultures, having “safe” jobs in fields such as medicine, engineering, architecture or even law is preferred as compared to more ‘novel’ jobs”
One factor that tends to influence a lot of our decisions is judgement. We prefer to follow societal norms, as it helps us feel more accepted by the people we grew up around. In quite a few cultures, having “safe” jobs in fields such as medicine, engineering, architecture or even law is preferred over more “novel” jobs. This mentality is especially prevalent in India. Therefore, switching from architecture to wildlife tourism was quite drastic for Deepa. It was not too difficult convincing her parents, but Deepa recalls “not having enough support” from her friends or relatives. She says: “they were not discouraging but they weren’t the most encouraging either.” The low representation of women in this particular line of work also made Deepa’s family apprehensive and unsure about supporting her career choice. It was a tough decision; however, nothing could deter Deepa from pursuing it. When asked what prompted the change, Deepa said: “I remember telling myself that when I retire, I want to be able to say that I lived my life to its fullest and sitting at a desk and designing buildings was definitely not the life I wanted.”
“Rather than trying to identify what I could do, I used very basic logic. I chose happiness. For me, nature and art made me happy. In the process of understanding myself, I realised I wanted to do what made me happy every single day”
It all seems easier said than done. A lot of people are reluctant to change their degree or career for fear of failure. Identifying what one truly wants to pursue can be quite a challenging task. Deepa, however, has a very simple answer to that. She explained: “Rather than trying to identify what I could do, I used very basic logic. I chose happiness. For me, nature and art made me happy. In the process of understanding myself, I realised I wanted to do what made me happy every single day.” Deepa’s answer made me wonder: is it really as simple as choosing happiness? We tend to always choose the complicated path because it is challenging. We are used to believing that attempting something challenging must have a good outcome. Maybe choosing happiness is easy but also the right way forward.
“Grappling with the knowledge that your peers are doing well while you struggle to find a job can be a disappointing feeling … ‘The key is to trust yourself, stay focused, and take it one day at a time’”
One would assume that the process of changing your degree/profession is the hardest part of the journey. People rarely talk about how to cope with what comes after that change. Deepa did take a leap of faith, but the struggle did not end there. She recounted how all her friends had stable, well-paying jobs while she was struggling to find a footing in her profession. Grappling with the knowledge that your peers are doing well while you struggle to find a job can be a disappointing feeling. It can take a toll on your confidence. “The key is to trust yourself, stay focused, and take it one day at a time”, says Deepa.
Deepa made a decision, but it was her determination and courage that got her this far. She thoroughly enjoys her job and meets people from various walks of life on a regular basis. Her perspective of life is quite refreshing and is a result of a lot of her experiences along the way. When she looks back, she can barely recall all the tough times. She may have changed her career, but she is highly appreciative of architecture and what it has taught her. Alongside being a naturalist, she hones her artistic skills as an illustrator. Deepa’s journey has definitely given me perspective and I hope the same for others. Changing paths can be extremely scary, but as Deepa said to me: “I’d rather risk it than regret it.”
