If you’re anything like me, life after college is not something you think about (or if you do, it’s with a butt-ton of anxiety and “what am I doing with my life” revolving in your head). While it is absolutely one hundred percent okay to not have a detailed plan, it is a good idea to put yourself out there and try different things surrounding your major to get a vague direction. Luckily, Clemson is one of the best universities for exploring what’s out there in the big wide world.

While studying abroad is a great way to get involved with your major and is honestly one of the best college experiences available, there are other ways to find potential jobs. A more at-home way is through professional internships! Professional internships are a great way of getting exposed to the specific field your major is in and provide countless opportunities for gaining great contacts and references. That being said, whether paid or unpaid, the important part of every internship is the experience. 

Some internships are going to be amazing, and you’ll want to start working for that company or business straight out of graduation. Some internships may be slightly less than amazing, but will still be beneficial to helping you decide what you like and what you don’t. If you do an internship that leads to you wanting to completely switch your major, that’s okay too! When I first started college, I was originally a Pre-Veterinary Sciences major with the intention of going to vet school after Clemson. However, after spending a summer interning with a vet clinic, I realized that this was not the smartest plan because I am not good at science or animal anatomy. It could also have had to do with the fact that I would get too emotionally attached to patients, but that’s beside the point. I learned very quickly that perhaps that major just wasn’t for me. Doing this internship helped show me that I’m more cut out for writing, which I love, versus science, which I’m only okay at.

Personally, I wouldn’t consider my internship with the vet clinic as unsuccessful. While it wasn’t the exciting animal version of “Grey’s Anatomy” that I had hoped for, it still taught me a lot about myself and what kind of job I want for the future. Countless other people I know have found internships beneficial in choosing to either stay in a major or sit back and rethink for a moment. 

Your collegiate and internship experiences are going to be as unique and personal as your everyday life, which is why it’s okay whatever the outcome of your internship may be. At the end of the day, you’re doing it to learn about what you want in a job and in life after college, which is something only you can figure out. So even if there’s an internship that’s not directly related to your major but interests you, take the leap, and go for it! There’s no such thing as a “standard college experience” because there’s no such thing as a standard life. 

So, when it comes to choosing an internship, find what interests you first, and go from there. The next step is going to be completely up to you.