I thought that I was incredibly unqualified for writing a blog post because I am a sophomore with no concrete study abroad, internship, or career plans. Nor do I have plans really beyond the next few months. And I realize that statement might induce a heart attack for UMass professors, advisors, and any other faculty members. That is not to say I do not think about the future at all, because I do constantly. I just hate deciding on one life path, and I frequently get antsy and need to change my environment, which leads my life to be semi-unpredictable. Perhaps that is just my excuse for lacking in preparing myself for the future, but it is true. It is also true that I am pretty clueless about what I want to do, where I want to live, and who I want to be in life. But, I am slowly learning it, as well as what I do not want to do, where I do not want to live, and who I do not want to be. 

Essentially, right now I am using my life experiences as a trial and error process in order to find out my likes and dislikes. I lived and studied in Spain this summer. What I figured out about Spain is that I enjoyed speaking to strangers, European architecture, and Spain’s meal schedule. I also learned that I do not enjoy eating salmon, drinking warm milk, and taking the bus on long distance trips. I went on UMass’s Salamanca program because it was a fair price for a summer session abroad and the amount of Spanish credits I would eventually receive enticed me. I liked the city I stayed in and the family I stayed with, but I did not like taking such small classes with other native English speakers. I did not feel particularly challenged in the classes and found myself barely needing to put a great deal of effort into receiving good grades. I did like the friends I made and discovered qualities that I admire in people I became close with. They were fun, lively, adventurous, and compassionate. I did not like when men would whistle at me and my friends in the street. I am always figuring out what brings me joy and what does not, what brings me excitement and what does not. Each day I find myself closer to figuring out what exactly it is that brings me sufficient joy to turn it into a satisfying career or even just life path. 

To do this, I ask meaningful questions before making a decision. Whether that be questions for myself, or questions for other people, such as friends or advisors. I am curious as to what the next steps should be in my path to get my Spanish degree. As of right now it is studying abroad and I am currently asking the necessary questions to determine the right program and time for me to go. Do I like Europe? Do I want to live with a host family again? Should I return to a country that I have already been to or do I enjoy completely new experiences? I may not know long term answers for myself because in my opinion, it is just so far away. But I can ask myself these questions for now. 

It is important to ask these questions to professors, advisors, or even classmates because they have access to resources or ideas that may otherwise never have been available. Since taking the integrative experience class Spanish394, I have become more aware of all of the possibilities for my future in regards to the Spanish degree that I am working towards. Asking my peers questions about programs with which they have studied, or discussing opportunities that my professor knows of. I know that there is a plethora of directions that my life could take depending on how I go about the continuation of my degree and what decisions I make now. That is a daunting thought that I try to combat by assuring myself that if I ask the right questions, I will make decisions that are in my best interest. 

I may not know what I want for my distant future, but I know that the future will come and I will still be figuring out what experiences I like and those that I do not. And being inquisitive and active in finding out my interests are the most helpful steps that will help me get there. I no longer think I am unqualified to write this blog post because I lack a rigid, lifetime to-do list. Rather, I know that there are other students that are probably just as clueless as I am. I know that I will figure it out one day, as I have made it this far without a strict plan. And if I can figure it out, anybody can.