My College Experience

I spent the first two years of college at the University of Washington hoping and searching for a major.  I decided that I would go ahead and take classes simply based on my interest or potential interest in the topic.  This was different from most of the other people I knew, who were trying to get math, writing, or natural world credits out of the way.  While others were taking classes like: The Planets, Dinosaurs, Pre-Calc, or English, I was taking classes like as different and specialized as: Slavic Linguistics – Special Topics - Bilingualism, Marching Band, History of the Scandinavian Languages, American Sabor, Intro to Linguistics, Visualization & CAD, Swedish, Intellectual Foundations of Informatics, Web Programming, and Survey of Music.

Most of the people I talked with during my first two years (even counselors) thought I had an unplanned, diverse and unique course load.  This is true, but I feel that in taking such diverse classes, I have become rather well rounded. 

Further, barring schedule conflicts, I cannot say that I have dropped a class here at the UW so far.  This has proved to be a very difficult, but character building experience.  Two of the most terrible classes I have taken here are Chemistry 142, and Computer Science 142.  These are both intro courses that students must take to get into the majors of chemistry and computer science, respectively.  Why did I take these classes and not drop them? 

Chem. 142, I took because my parents want me to become a pharmacist, and I wanted to show them that I would at least try out chemistry before telling them I don’t want to be a pharmacist.  I could have taken the course for a while and dropped it, but I continued on because I am not used to quitting at class work.  It was a dark and terrible time for me… especially since the lectures met at 8:30 am in the winter and the homework was always long and arduous, but I pushed through and came out with a 3.5 in the course.

CSE 142, I took because I was considering computer science as a major and thought it was going to teach me web programming.  I quickly learned that I would be programming in this awful computer language called Java (not Javascript).  I also learned that I was amongst students who had already had experience coding in this terrible computer language.  I told myself I shouldn’t be afraid of working with the best and after taking chemistry 142, this course didn’t scare me as much.  Still, it was almost as bad and has instilled in me a slight hatred for the number, 142.  I came out with a 2.5 in the course, which has been my worst grade to date, but I was still able to make the Dean’s List that quarter. 

During Spring quarter of my sophomore year, I found that I am interested in language and culture.  I am now a double major in Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, with a Swedish Minor.  Hearing this, most people probably think I am crazy or lost and confused, but really --- languages are intriguing to me and the Swedish language is so well kept, preserved, and regulated that language rules actually mean something! (unlike in Engish... I'm so glad I'm a native speaker!)  But, there is a lot of linguistic change happening there too, which I plan on investigating whilst abroad next winter and spring!

I have a wide variety of interests and I felt that I would never be able to choose major, but I've chosen two and feel I have made the right decision.  I do not know where linguistics or Scandinavian Studies will take me in the future, but for now I am following my passions, and that's more than most people can say.