Going home for the holidays means good food, a restful break, and lots of family. When I was a freshmen going home for the holidays, I had to constantly explain the competitive major system, difficult classes, and my future goals to family and friends. It can seem stressful when everyone's trying to give you advice and often it feels like you're falling behind peers and expectations. It's alright to not know what you want after your first quarter. Be honest with your experiences.

Here are my three takeaways:

Explaining the system: UW is known for having competitive majors that students apply to after a few quarters of exploring their options. This is very different from most other schools so it can be difficult to explain to family and friends who expect you to know what you're studying. Let others know that it is normal to not be in a major but you are still working hard towards achieving your goals. Explain how you've benefited from getting to explore different classes in different ares of focus and how much you've grown!
Break down major and goals: If you have a STEM-oriented family like mine, it can be difficult explaining liberal arts majors. Explain the classes you're taking and how they interest you. Explain how classes in the major are taught and look into the common professions that UW graduates of that program are in. Also remember that major does not equal job and that your options don't end when you pick a major. If you want advice for talking about majors and jobs, I'd recommend looking at the Husky Experience tab on your MyUW for inspiration.
Talk about the successes: Sometimes it gets exhausting re-explaining your situation and it's ok to brush off the questions and concerns. Sometimes saying "don't worry, I'm figuring it out" is enough. Instead, change the topics into the positives! Talk about classes you enjoyed or ones that you did well in. Talk about professors you like and extracurricular that you're involved in. Focus on all the things you've accomplished in your first quarter at UW!

Annie Xia, Junior