Student Blog: A Freshman Year of Finding My Future

Hi! My name is Brianna and I am a sophomore Public Relations and Psychology major at Florida State University. As I'm currently working on getting adjusted to a new course schedule, new living situation, and new extracurriculars, I often find myself thinking back to this same time last year. Last October, I felt a whirlwind of emotions as I tried (and sometimes struggled) to acclimate to the new life I was starting. I was basically born a FSU fan and grew up going to football games, walking the campus, and of course supporting the team from home. Despite this, the fresh start felt foreign, and I admit there were times I questioned whether it was really for me. 

Last fall, I experienced several changes socially, emotionally, and academically. I began the semester as a Psychology major, a topic that I had been passionate about for years, with a plan to purse a career in pediatric psychology nursing; however, something felt a bit "off" about this plan. I found myself telling others, "If I could choose any career path, I would pursue entertainment," or "I wish I could be a theater major"; at one point I even met with our school's theater advisor, and had my major switched for about three weeks (until I got cold feet and switched back to Psychology). 

In August, I joined my sorority and quickly found women who I knew would change my life. About a month in, I had my big-little reveal and was overjoyed that I matched with the big I had I hoped for. I immediately noticed that she was so passionate and driven about everything she did. She actually introduced me to the programs that our College of Communication and Information offered, and I was instantly drawn to the Public Relations program. This seemed to incorporate multiple facets I was interested in, and I finally saw a clear path to a career path in entertainment. I applied to the program in December and received my acceptance e-mail in February, now joining a community of about 40 students. I still enjoyed Psychology, though, and decided to pursue dual degrees to broaden my career options as I explored what I would like to do in the future. 

Now, I feel more at home at FSU, and I'm very lucky to have friends, sisters, and family around me as a support system. I've met several people who inspire me and encourage me to remain hard-working and passionate. I've also taken advantage of the endless opportunities FSU has to offer, having the ability to serve as the Vice President of a student-nonprofit, an Arts & Culture Staff Writer for FSU's independent newspaper, a Journalism Coordinator for our Dance Marathon program, and a Programming Intern for our on-campus entertainment venue and student-run programming board. 

I'd say my biggest lesson so far is to try everything. If there is something calling to you, it can almost never hurt to give it a chance; if there is someone you feel you should reach out to, it’s possible they could become one of your best friends (speaking from experience!). In the last year, I have already learned so much about myself, the things and people that I love, and what my future could potentially look like. I'm so lucky to have the ability to follow my interests, and I can't wait to begin my journey writing as a Broadway World Student Blogger!