In a rapidly changing world, young people face one of their biggest challenges as they approach the end of high school: choosing the right university major. Today, universities are no longer just institutions that grant degrees; they have become platforms that shape an individual’s identity and open doors to their professional and social future.
With this transformation, options have expanded, disciplines overlap, and entirely new fields have emerged that were unknown a decade ago — such as artificial intelligence, data science, entrepreneurship, and sustainable design.
While this abundance may seem liberating and full of opportunity, it often overwhelms students, creating anxiety and hesitation:
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Should I choose what I love, or what will bring a good income?
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Should I satisfy myself or my family’s expectations?
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What if I regret my choice later?
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What if I’m not “good enough” in the field I choose?
These questions multiply in the absence of effective guidance, compounded by societal pressure and contradictory messages from the surrounding environment. This makes a pivotal decision feel like a mental and emotional burden.
In such a context, it is essential to focus on making a conscious, thoughtful decision about a university major — one that comes from within, based on personal interests, values, and strengths, rather than external pressures. Choosing a major is not just an academic step; it is part of building identity, achieving self-realization, and opening doors to the future.
Sandra Al-Luqais, a life coach and mental health specialist, explains the details to Nadormagazine.
Expert Perspective
Sandra Al-Luqais, life coach and mental health specialist:
“Every year, thousands of teenagers face one of the biggest decisions in their early lives: choosing a university major. This decision brings excitement and anxiety and is accompanied by subtle pressures from society — sometimes unintentionally from us as parents.”
She adds, “As a life coach, mental health specialist, and a mother who accompanied her eldest daughter to university this year and is preparing her younger one for next year, I’ve experienced this stage from every angle: emotional, practical, and human.”
The Paradox of Choice
From Pressure to Purpose
One of the most common challenges observed in guidance sessions is the weight of expectations — from family, friends, or cultural norms. Many students feel stuck between what they love, what they think will please their families, or what promises a financially secure future.
Helping Students Make Conscious Decisions
1. Encourage Self-Exploration
2. Explore Without Labels
Encourage them to shadow professionals, attend workshops, or take aptitude and personality tests. Experience fosters clarity.
3. Discuss Purpose, Not Just Profession
Ask: What impact do they want to leave? What kind of life do they envision? A degree is not just a job title; it’s a bridge to meaning.
4. Normalize Change
Many adults change career paths multiple times. The first choice is not final.
5. Teach Flexibility, Not Fear
Guide them to see options as possibilities, not threats.
6. Support, Don’t Direct
Be a compass, not a driver. Ask, listen, and trust them to find their own path.
A Final Word to Parents
Watching our children grow is one of life’s greatest joys — and challenges. We want to protect them, but they need to struggle, stumble, and rise on their own.
What I’ve learned as a coach and a mother is that the best gift we can give them is trust in their ability to choose.
Because one day, the world will ask them:
“Who are you?”
And I hope their answer is not just a job title, but a reflection of their authenticity and alignment with themselves.
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