Too many times, when we ask our classmates what they want to do as a career, they do not know. They think they have plenty of time, and they do not have to worry about it. That statement could not be farther from the truth.

Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, four years or less is hardly enough time, because it will pass by in the blink of an eye.

It is important to at least be thinking about what you want to do, so that, if you apply for college, you can know exactly what classes you want to take. While it seems daunting, choosing a career, or even just a career field, is easier than most think.

Here are some tips:

1. Keep in mind that a career you think you will go into is not the be all and end all. You do not have to go out and choose exactly what you want to do, choose your major and choose exactly where you will work or anything like that. Most people who do know what they want to do do not even get that far. Planning for the future is not planning every single detail of your life. It is getting a basic idea of what you want to do to start planning the next steps.

2. Find out what you like. Maybe you really like helping people out. Look into jobs that involve that, such as anything in the medical field. Maybe you do not really know what you like yet, or you like so many different things that you can not just choose one – join a club, or multiple. Maybe you really like film, try KCBY. Maybe you want to do something health related, try HOSA. While it is important to use things like clubs to find out what you want to do, they are for so much more than that. Developing your skills in any club will help with anything you do, so you are killing two birds with one stone by joining them.

3. Keep your options open. You may think that you do not like something, but once you try it, you may end up loving it.

4. Find out what your strengths and weaknesses are. For things such as EZ Tutoring, signing up for that and participating in it can help you realize that you have a lot of patience (or maybe you do not). By trying out new things, you can realize what you are good at.

5. If you have something you want to do, do not let other people affect your decision. So many of the people who struggle with deciding a career do know what they want to do, but they are afraid that it will be dumb, wrong or their parents will not approve. It is your career, not your parents or your friends career. Choose what you think will make you happy and what you will like.  

6. Do not let money influence your choice in a career. There is no point in having a lot of money if you do not enjoy what you are doing in getting that money. When you choose a career you think you want, it is easier to pursue it because you enjoy it. You will generally do better and if it is the type of job where you can get promoted, you will get promoted.