Why I chose my major and why I love it.

    Decisions are those tough choices we each make every day whether it’s deciding on a pair of shoes or deciding on who you want to become for the rest of your life. No matter the outcome one thing is for sure, when looking back at one’s past choices, one should have the strength to either advance or learn from them. Even though the initial goal is to succeed, it is crucial to remind ourselves that it’s okay to fall before we fly. Being the oldest and first in the family to ever attend college definitely gave me a few mixed emotions at first but gradually started to prepare me for one of the best decisions of my life, my career path. 

    From what I can remember in my early teen years, I was in a constant debate with myself about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Since I loved art work, makeup, and baking; I’d think of certain jobs like a tattoo artist, makeup artist, or a baker to be some of my alternatives. However, as I matured and continued to learn, I finally came to the conclusion that the reason I couldn’t decide on anything was because in the end it’s not about choosing the career that’s going to change us, It’s about choosing the career that is going to help us change the world. 

    So then it hits me, Why not study the people themselves? By this I don’t mean psychologically or socially, although they are quite important to consider, I am referring to the human body itself. My declared major is not in Human Anatomy, but in Kinesiology, the study of movement. Statistically speaking, cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the leading causes of about 53% of deaths in the United States alone. When I was first introduced to shocking numbers like this I couldn’t help but think about the loved ones we’ve lost throughout our lives due to diseases such as Heart valve problems, Heart attacks, Strokes, etc. Out of all important statistics and information, I’d have to say that “Exercise is the best medicine” were the words that most impacted me in the field of Kinesiology.

    The benefits of exercise and physical movement are limitless. I for one come from a Hispanic culture family who wasn’t able to eat dinner without flour tortillas and a giant glass of soda with ice. We all know eating habits and lack of physical activity would do us bad one day but always had the words, “We’re all going to die of something anyways” engraved in our heads that kept us from the change we should have made a long time ago. As I mentioned, I one day would like to change the world. I’d like to one day open my own business as a Physical Therapist  and help individuals who need my help to get back on their feet and strive for the life we all should be living- with plenty of movement. 

    Day by day and course by course, I myself slowly made those changes to becoming a healthier person and also made the decision to change those around me as well. It was rather difficult to accommodate some of the new nutrition and time managing with physical activity with my family since they were so use to living the lifestyles they have always known. Looking back at how we were before though, one can see a difference in general. Choosing my major changed my way of thinking and has slowly showed me that I one day can change those numbers by influencing others just like I had been. I just cannot express the passion and love I have for my field right now, it's almost like it grew upon me.

    I suppose the best advice I could give would be to follow one’s morals and dedication. I’m sure we have all experienced a few ups and downs as we critique others in the aftermath of their career choices. Deciding on who you want to be is going to have you thinking for quite a while but regardless the money, the time, or sacrifices one would have to make; we all know it’s very well worth it. Just remember that one day you are going to be a professional, so let’s make ourselves act as one from the beginning and start now!