Hello! My name is Grace Seymour, and I’m going to be a senior this fall. Believe it or not, I was not an advertising major until the second semester of my junior year. I was initially a criminal justice major who felt stuck and didn’t know what major would suit me best. A law-related career interested me because I’ve always wanted to help people who cannot help themselves. Since I am not scientifically gifted enough to be a doctor, I felt the only way I could truly make a difference was by providing legal assistance to those that needed it. However, I realized last semester that this is not the case. Through the help of my advisors and my current job, I found my true calling: advertising. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and now I get to do it with a purpose in mind. I can help those who need it by providing them with a voice.
Changing my major gave me a newfound purpose. I finally felt as though I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. It took me a long time to get to this point, and this isn’t the case for everyone. Sometimes you have to change your major a few times to find what truly fits you. If you are unsure of your major, my greatest advice is to join a club. You can make new friends with common interests while learning about your major. Once I changed my major, I submitted my application for the National Student Advertising Competition (NASC) and had the pleasure of meeting Robin Spring. She’s an incredible professor at Grand Valley who will help you find your voice. She was the one who told me about Ad Club and how she thought I would be a great addition to the club.
I’ll admit that I was pretty excited to join the club. I had felt so lost before changing my major, and it made me happy to know that I was taking a step in the right direction. I felt content knowing I was about to join a club where I could meet real-world professionals and create connections that would help me in the future. Certain opportunities are only available through the club, which is why I was so enthusiastic about joining.
Since joining Ad Club, I have felt less alone. Changing my major so late in my college career meant that I had to take summer classes, and I had no idea what courses to take. As I created my fall schedule, it was refreshing to hear what some of the Ad Club members had to say. They gave me advice on which professors would be understanding and helpful and which classes would suit my interests best. I’ve also enjoyed geeking out with other members. Having others relate to me, and the struggles I have faced has made me a happier person overall. It’s nice to know that if I need help regarding my major, I can always go to the other members and ask them for help.
Picking a major isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t hurt to join a few clubs that can help you identify your key interests. I couldn’t be more grateful that I joined Ad Club. It has made a huge difference in my life, both career-wise and socially. My biggest piece of advice to anyone who doesn’t know their major yet or who wants to keep looking for what speaks to them: do not stress. Try going into everything with an open mind. You never know what you may find!
Because things get real, real fast 
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