The day started incredibly oddly. I almost ran late catching the number 3 Glendale Beeline and I started to frantically look for a seat. I opted for the back. Little did I know what I was going to encounter.

Out of the blue, I was suddenly immersed in an interesting conversation with a man about literature and the fact that I was an English major, wanting to become a writer. I was beginning to get more and more curious in what he had to say. He suggested a place called the “Career Center” – which is actually in most colleges. By the time I came out of the bus, I was moved by a sense of adventure wanting to know more about myself and what I wanted to do in the future.

I arrived at the second floor of the San Gabriel building and without any knowledge, asked to know what to do if you want to specifically find out what you were meant to become, in terms of a career. It didn’t take a long time to find out what I had to do because as soon as I walked in, I was already greeted by Tatyana or “Taty” (as they like to call her) at the front desk. I didn’t expect everyone to be extremely friendly and helpful. She was very informative and offered me many helpful suggestions about my major and the opportunities it had to offer, like the rate of job growth in the area and expected salaries.

Tatyana gave me books to read and introduced me to two computer programs named “Eureka” and “Discovery,” for which the college spends approximately $36,000 per year. As students we benefit from this service given to us at a low rate and even a discounted price. “GCC has one of the best Career Centers in most community colleges in the United States,” Tatyana said. Then, immediately I was referred to a counselor named Denise, who was also extremely friendly and eager to help.

She knew what students were going through. In her junior year, she encountered the same questions about herself (also starting as an English major, hoping to become a lawyer in graduate school).

As soon as she had gotten advice from the Career Center, she soon liked the prospect of becoming a counselor and has the same desire to help students up to this present time. “It’s better to start as soon as you can,” she said. Then, she asked me several questions about my interests, gave me some statistics about my field and offered me a variety personality tests to take.

Overall, I left the Career Center with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that even if I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do in the future, I was more self-assured in the people who helped me in doing so that way.

The Career Center is one of the best places to go if you are considering many options in your major or career. Not only did I get to know myself better that day but I learned that you have to do what you love – and sometimes, it is something in the unexpected!