When I started at N.C. State in the fall of 2005 I knew exactly what I wanted to do after graduation. I was going to be a buyer for a department store. I chose the College of Textiles in order to reach this goal.
After three years of school, two internships, and knowledgeable professors, I have redirected my career goals toward law school. Many people have asked me if I regret the choice of my major now that my plans have changed. The answer is no. I gained practical experience that will prove valuable for the future I have chosen.
Attending a school that has a narrow focus on a specific subject allowed me to foster close relationships with my professors, and these relationships have been an integral part of my experience at N.C State. Through their instruction I have been able to make an informed decision about my post-graduation plans.
The College of Textiles was established 109 years ago in response to the growing textile industry in North Carolina. It focuses now on textile engineering and technology, supply chain management (the processes that occur to turn raw fibers into finished products), and marketing. The curriculum covers many subjects, but professors always view the topics in class through a “textile” lens.
My major is textile and apparel management. One of the first classes I took was in textiles and global business. By the third lecture I was hooked. The passion that my professor had for the subject motivated me to learn all that I could, in her class and in others. Through her instruction, and that of other professors after her, I learned about the United States as a player in the world economy. My awareness of globalization gave me a new perspective on all aspects of my college courses and on current events.
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I also gained a great deal of experience through two internships. (The College of Textiles has its own internship/ career office funded by alumni.) I shadowed an area sales manager at a major department store, and I was pushed further out of my comfort zone than I had ever been before. I helped her with her daily responsibilities, which often meant delegating tasks to associates who had not only worked at the store for much longer than I had but who were also much older than I. I am grateful that she encouraged me to step up as a leader and overcome my timidity in such situations. That summer’s experience influenced the way I view work and school now.
My second internship was an opportunity that I had wanted since before I came to college, working in the buying office of a department store. This internship eventually showed me that this was not the career I wanted to pursue, but I learned how to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment—and also learned the importance of asking questions. I was always asking everyone from advertising to human resources what their job entailed so that I could gain a better feel of how a company is run and what I might like to pursue professionally.
As my career goals changed, I could have changed my major, and many of my peers did not understand why I did not. Based on conversations with other students, I think that many students feel compelled to switch majors when their career goals change.
But this often makes it hard to graduate in four years and is often unnecessary. My major is not typical for someone entering law school but actually it makes me stand out.
For one thing, my major included substantial math and science; I have a Bachelor of Science degree, not the B. A. that most applicants to law school have. Lawyers are increasingly involved in technical subjects, and my background in supply chain and manufacturing would be a valuable resource in the study of intellectual property or patent law.
Many graduates of the College of Textiles have gone into areas of law that require technical knowledge, and their undergraduate classes helped to prepare them. One of the largest problems in intellectual property law right now is the manufacturing of counterfeit goods, from purses to toothpaste. This has had detrimental effects on the U.S. economy as well human rights standards in many countries. My familiarity with the manufacturing industry offers practical insights that few college graduates have.
If I had changed my major to, say, political science or history I would have had to take an extra semester or more to graduate, and I would have graduated with “just another” of the degrees that most people expect someone applying to law school to have.
In summary, I am still thrilled with my choice of study, although for very different reasons than I anticipated when I started college. Although I will not use my undergraduate education in the way that I first intended, the solid foundation I received during my time at N.C. State has given me a comprehensive view of U.S. manufacturing as well as the global economy.
As a college senior, I encourage everyone to take advantage of every opportunity available at a university. You have resources extending far beyond the classroom. Benefiting from knowledgeable professors and obtaining internships that give you insight and work experience will enhance your education, as they did mine.