r/Kinesiology • u/Hurdleholic • 20h ago
Feeling guilty about choice of major
Hey guys. I recently graduated with B.S. Kinesiology (with an emphasis on coursework pertaining to pre-med/pre-health professions) and minored in chemistry. I got certified as an ACSM-EP, soon looking towards NSCA-CSCS. I came here to post some troubling thoughts I've been having.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the education I obtained and want to feel proud of it, I can't help to feel guilty that I should have studied something more applicable to what the job market demands. Yes, Kinesiology is a very broad topic and can be applied to any advanced education and occupation, but on it's own I understand the job prospects can be quite challenging. I chose this major at the ripe age of 18 y/o without much experience being in the real world or working yet.
I had an excellent time at college and made the most of the experience with connections and extracurriculars. The degree was entirely paid for and I have no debt. But, because of the nature of the degree, I feel as if my free ticket to an education and a middle class life and beyond could have been well-spent elsewhere (nursing, engineering, SWE, accounting). Degrees that have a direct application to occupations that the job market pays well.
Basically, I am having a hard time justifying if my overall college experience was worth the education I got, and vice versa. Parts of me wish I went to community college first to save money for an advanced degree, but I will truly never know. My family wanted me to get a foundation for what I want to do next, and they did that successfully, and they expressed no regrets. Sometimes, I feel as if I should apologize to them for not studying something that the job market demands.
What do you think? I don’t “regret” my decisions in life, but I think back and obviously wonder what other paths could have taken me down.