Beth had no idea what she wanted to study in college or do afterwards.
She didn't know what she wanted to be when she was six and she still didn't at nineteen. [[Backstory]]
She wondered all the time about what [[direction]] she should go in, but never made any progress, so you stepped in and remember it as though it happened just yesterday.You know that Beth needs to start really thinking about her major now that she is in college. Soon, it will be too late for her to change her mind!
She has no idea what she wants to study and you graciously offer to [[help!]]Beth has always loved math! It is in her comfort zone, and finding the right answer always makes her feel sooo smart.
So what can she do as a [[math major?]]"Ohhh," Beth says, "I have always been interested in science. Less so with the actual in-depth details and facts, but I really like learning about nature"
She asks what she could do with a [[science degree]] that wouldn't put her way in over her head.Eh, you know that Beth does not like history... AT ALL.
She doesn't even stop to think about it and says that she's leaning towards no here.
And back to the [[options]] you go.Since the only things Beth can draw are stick figures, you agree with her that she shouldn't go down this path.
You both hurry to go to the other [[options]].She could be a [[teacher]] or an [[accountant]]?A [[doctor?]]
A [[microbiologist?]]A [[writer for a newspaper or magazine?]]
An [[author?]]
An [[editor?]]
A [[publisher?]]
[[...]]Beth's face scrunches up and she shudders, saying "And be around all those germs?"
You, having recognized the signs of her factitious disorder creeping in when she twitches her nose, go back to the other [[science degree]] options."This sounds very interesting and complicated." Beth takes the sharpie from you and crosses it off the list, but after a couple seconds [[rewrites]] it at the bottom.After trying to watch a long documentary on soil health, Beth crosses it off her list again... this time for good.
You are more than happy to go back to the other [[options]] after staring at dirt for the past two hours.Beth thinks on it for a minute, then realizes she doesn't want to add and subtract somebody else's shopping expenses all day everyday while she sits in an office.
She'd much rather be the one shopping.
You watch as she takes a sharpie to cross it off the list.
You go back to the [[options]].Beth says she could get behind this... but first, she'll have to go back and rewatch for Carrie Bradshaw's style.
Also, she informs you that she would be torn between world news and celebrity news (but only nice and supportive celebrity news... she hates it when magazines hate on celebrities!)
You watch as she grabs a bright purple highlighter and draws flowers around this.
But she still wants to explore the other options, so... [[english degree]]Everyone knows that Beth loves to read! She is excited about the fact that she could write the types of books she likes to read.
Fiction? Definitely. Mystery and crime? Absolutely! Adventure and humor? There is no doubt about it!
You sigh when she stops paying attention to you and starts daydreaming of her life as an author.
After a moment, she uses her purple highlighter for this one.
You roll your eyes and, before she can ask, go back to [[english degree]]Beth's eyes widen and she gasps- could she really spend her days getting paid to read books?!
And she could help finalize the works of the next Suzanne Collins... or Janet Evanovich?!?!?!
"Wow," she tells you, and creates lavender swirls around this idea.
This time it is her who goes back to [[english degree]]Beth tells you that the idea of being able to help aspiring authors reach their dreams is tempting.
She tries not to judge books by their covers, but sometimes, she does... literally. Beth really likes the idea of being able to make sure that good books get covers that are just as good!
In a bold streak of purple, she highlights this, but you know the routine and turn back to [[english degree]]Suddenly, Beth jumps out of her chair and you look up at her in confusion.
"I just had the best [[idea]]... I won't choose! I'll do them all!" She clasps her hands together and grins.
You try not to laugh, but it is impossible. You should have seen this coming!All of these options are closely related in the book world.
You've known Beth long enough to know that she will have a hard time with figuring out how to [[choose between them]].Beth lets you know that she had never really liked school when she was there to learn, and doesn't think she'll like going back to teach.
"No thanks," she says and scribbles out the option on the list.
[[math major?]]"Eh..." Beth mulls over this, then says with a shrug, "[[maybe.]]"Beth relaxes after her non-decision decision, and you can't help but to grin because somehow, she has managed to get away with not making any real decisions.
The End.
Return to beginning here: [[Hello and Welcome!]]You decide that you will bring up a subject she can study in college, then explore career options in that field. Beth is so grateful for your help!
... But you know that she is probably one of the most indecisive people you have ever met, so you're not sure how this is going to go.
So what [[options]] do you bring up first for her to study?[[math]]
[[art]]
[[science]]
[[history]]
[[english]]Ohhhh.... Beth seems to really be interested in this subject.
You try not to get your hopes up for her, but wonder "could this be the one?"
You hurry to tell Beth about what she could do with an [[english degree]].''The Mind of Beth''
[[How to Read]]Do whatever you want!
But if you read left to right, or top to bottom, [[you]] will follow the exact path that Beth followed when she was thinking about her life.You (yes you!) have always been around for Beth's entire life so you know she is indecisive and all over the place... usually all of the time.
But Beth has had moments in her life where she has had to pull herself together (somewhat) and makes some [[decisions]].Did you go down memory lane for the [[long story]] or the [[short story]]? The summer before her junior year, Beth decided to take a college class. She was sixteen.
Fast forward a few months before the end of her junior year and her principle requested to meet with Beth and her mother. The mother-daughter duo learned that Beth only needed four classes to graduate and Beth's mother decided that her daughter could finish the graduation requirements that summer. Beth was hesitant- a full high school course load AND college classes? She was leaning towards no, but her mother persuaded (well... told) Beth to do it. So she did.
Not long after, maybe a month, Beth's father, an active duty Marine, came home with some shocking news: they were moving from California to Virginia that summer. Yes, within two months they would have to be packed and moved out of their house which needed sold, and they would be beginning their journey across the country in their camper (which Beth hated with a passion rivaled by no other).
Anyways, Beth finished her high school classes and walked in the graduation ceremony at the beginning of summer. She was seventeen.
Then while on the road, she finished her college summer classes before arriving in Virginia a few weeks before the fall semester would begin. Her diploma was mailed to her right in time for classes at the new community college to start. There, Beth was a math major in the fall, but by spring, she had changed it to a science major with a math specialization, which she kept for the summer semester too.
She applied to university as a biology major for the fall, but before she even enrolled for classes, she changed her major to English. She was eighteen.
Happy with her decision, Beth was preparing to graduate with her bachelor's degree. She would be nineteen then.
You remember with mixed emotions that in between her graduations, she had to make a lot of different [[decisions]].
(You're probably wishing you went with the [[short story]], huh?)Long story short, Beth had suddenly graduated high school at seventeen years old and later found out she was set to graduate college at nineteen. The time in between was so back and forth and chaotic because of all the [[decisions]] she made, she doesn't even remember half of it.
Long story even shorter, Beth had to suddenly make some decisions she wasn't quite ready to make.
Curious? Confused? Then, go to the [[long story]].
If not, go to [[decisions]].