Don’t worry, I’m not going to break into song here. This is another one of my “I’ve recently made a very large/important decision and should probably let folks know” posts. Long story short, I’m changing my major – again. If you’re keeping count, this makes four. Though the total is still really only three, it will be the fourth time I’ve changed. How is that possible? I’m going back to where it all started, literally.

Eight years ago, I was a freshman at The University of Texas at Arlington. My major? Mechanical Engineering. If you’ve known me that long, you know how well that turned out. Sure, I could say I was shocked by the tragic events that occurred right at the onset of my college career. That wouldn’t even be a lie, but that would hardly provide sufficient explanation for the worst year of my academic life. The fact of the matter is I just didn’t care as much about school as I should have. I wanted a motorcycle, and I wanted new guitar toys. I spent far more time working to fulfill those goals than I did to pass calculus.

Fortunately, I’ve done a lot of growing up since then. I still have my ridiculously expensive hobbies, and I still tend to do what I can to make sure what I want is what I get. The difference is I can actually manage my time now, and usually manage to convince myself that what I know is a stupid idea is in fact a stupid idea. Oh, I also listen to my Dad a lot more at 25 than I did at 18. It would seem he’s become much smarter recently. Must have something to do with technology.

So how does this culminate in another change in my major? I can’t very well claim to know exactly what it is I want to do, but I can say that I feel a degree in mechanical engineering would give me far more options than a degree in journalism. To put it another way, there is no reason I’d be unable to write for the sorts of publications or audiences for whom I’d like to write if I had a degree in engineering. There are, however, numerous reasons I’d be unable to work on a number of other things I’d like to do if I only had a degree in journalism. What it all boils down to is optimizing my potential.

All of that said, I’ve recently (read: today) completed applications for Fall ’09 at The University of Texas at Arlington and Spring ’10 at The University of Texas. At both, I’ve declared intent to major in mechanical engineering. Since I love the Austin area, even if it is the only place on the planet in which I suffer from allergies, I’d like to finish the degree at UT. I missed the deadline for Fall ’09 applications, so I will go back to UT Arlington. Should UT Austin accept me for engineering in Spring ’10, I will only be at UT Arlington for a semester. If they do not, I will finish my degree at UT Arlington. I will be in school for longer this way, but I think in the long run it will be worth it.