Hey everyone,
[short story]
I’ve changed my major 3 times, not very happy with my current (computer science) even though I like programming. However, I’m sticking with my major. But, I really enjoy mentoring and tutoring. I’d like to use programming to be able to help reach out to people who need help with either. Do you have any suggestions?
[long story]
I’ve been here quite awhile. When I returned to school (I’m 28), I went back for accounting – even though I always wanted to be a teacher/professor. I did this because, for me, I felt like accounting was doable (whereas getting a Ph.D. didn’t seem like a great idea at the time) and a decent way to make a living (and teachers in the states aren’t necessarily making bank).
Professors in my math courses influenced me to try out engineering, and I found that I didn’t really enjoy physics. But I realized I liked math and was good at it. I also found that I enjoyed tutoring students in my classes, in fact, a professor even recommended students to come talk to me if they needed help. Another suggested I lead study groups, etc.
I began to believe in my abilities a bit more and felt like I wanted to work in aerospace. I began researching the best way to do this and discovered upon computer science. I’ve now taken up through data structures and discrete math 2 (weed out courses at my school). I also began participating in a community of teenagers and advising them on education and careers paths based on what I’ve learned. Many of them have been grateful.
Anyways, I’ve discovered that I like programming, but I don’t really like computer science. That said, I’m going to stick with it because I can’t afford to change majors to something else. My problem is through this journey I’ve realized that my strengths and passions really lie in teaching, mentoring, and tutoring. I plan on sticking with CS, but how can I use my chosen major to help others?
I’ve been really thinking about this a lot lately. I’d like to design something to help people with either mentoring or tutoring or both. I know this is kind of ironic, posting here. But I feel like I won’t be happy if I settle for anything else, which I think is what I’ve done the past 3 years of college.
Any help/advice would be awesome.