Nothing More Than Feelings

Purpose: Students often try to overlook emotional reactions as valid in the major and career selection process. It is helpful to validate feelings as valuable in the selection and choice process. Although this activity looks at this emotional side of the issue, if you choose to base your decision only on issues you see as “practical”, your decisions must be valued and supported.

As a result of this activity you will be able to:

• Describe your emotions related to your choice.
• Accept emotional reactions as valid points in a decision-making process.
• Evaluate the strength of your emotional reaction.

Process: When you are asked, “How do you feel about your major or career?” you may have a wide-range of emotions and find difficulty in separating and classifying the various reactions. Seemingly contradictory emotions may exist for the same aspect of an issue. Here are some guiding questions that may help you to see the complexity of your feelings. Write down your answers to these questions and share them with your advisor.

• When you tell people what your major or career is ________________, how do you think you will feel?
• When you think of the path to finish this major how do you feel?
• What excites you about your major or career decision?
• Does anything scare you about this decision?
• Which option feels right? Write more about this.
• How do you feel about your process of exploration and/or choosing?
• How did you feel when you decided this choice was right for you?

Note: Try to explain your feelings or write more about your answers as opposed to defending your emotions.