When Harper Sollish realized her first two majors weren’t the right fit, she felt lost in the major maze. With the help of a career advisor, she explored her strengths in writing and creativity and discovered a new direction in journalism. The Career Exploration Center (CEC) helped her map out a plan to apply to the school of journalism, transforming uncertainty into a clear path aligned with her skills and interests.
In high school, Harper was interested in pursuing forensic science. Since UW-Madison doesn’t offer a forensic science program, she decided to declare a biology major with a certificate in criminal justice, seeing this as a path to the field of forensic sciences. However, while choosing courses for her sophomore year, she reflected on her future course lineup and realized she wasn’t sure if this path aligned with her interests anymore.
“I was looking at what the future classes were [going to] be, and…I [didn’t] really know what I would be doing with [biology],” she said.
Her next pivot, to nursing, proved equally ill-fitting. She wasn’t succeeding in her courses as much as she hoped she would and the content wasn’t fitting her interests. So, she talked to her parents and made a visit to the CEC to find a new path forward.
She met with CEC career advisor Audrey Cowling who helped her explore the different paths that align with her interests. Writing had always been a strength that came naturally to Harper. She loved creative projects, including painting and designing press-on nails.
“I remember someone specifically told me, I don’t want you to go into your junior year and then think, ‘Oh, wait, this was actually a major [I could have pursued,]” she said. “I think [exploration] is taking the initiative to look around and see what else is out there.”
Audrey and Harper came up with a plan together: Harper would apply to the journalism school and pursue both the strategic communication and reporting tracks. She was excited about the new possibilities ahead, looking at her new schedule. Compared to the science-heavy semesters she previously had, her new courses in storytelling and communication felt more aligned with who she was.
“I don’t think it was a bad thing that I went through so many different majors,” she said. “I don’t think I would have realized [those majors weren’t for me] if I hadn’t taken the classes.”
Harper’s journey shows that changing course isn’t failure; it’s growth. She values the experiences she had in biology and in nursing because they equipped her with a strong foundation and led her to a path that feels right. Upon graduation, Harper is excited to pursue a career in film journalism.
Story by Madeleine Heu, Michelle Jackson, and Rachel Goodman