If you’re choosing a college major, or simply deciding what to learn next, here’s my advice: major in the liberal arts of life and apply design thinking to everything you do. That means practicing curiosity, problem solving, and critical thinking as daily habits, not just academic skills.
As a yoga teacher and career coach, I’ve seen how art and science weave together everywhere: there is always science in art, and art in science. Whether you’re coding, painting, analyzing data, or writing poetry—you’re experimenting, noticing patterns, and shaping something meaningful.
Find your frequency
Everything is vibration - your thoughts, your words, your choices. Each carries a frequency. When you tune into the interests that resonate with your energy, you begin to live in harmony with yourself.
Your “song of life” will have many notes, movements, and stations you’ll tune into over time. Allow yourself to flow with it, without fighting or forcing. Some interests (or songs) will be temporary, others lifelong. What matters is that you keep listening, both to the outer world and to your inner voice, the light and the dark, and your inner consciousness. That is what shows you the way forward.
Find an interest (not the interest)
This season of life is for discovering an interest you’re genuinely interested in. Not forever—just for now. Pick something that sparks joy and makes you want to learn more, including the “light side” (the easy, exciting parts) and the “shadow side” (the challenging, mysterious parts). When you study anything deeply, you’ll awaken to its hidden questions—and that’s where growth lives.
When you follow an interest:
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You’re a scientist because you’re researching, testing, and learning.
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You’re a businessperson because you’re exploring how to create value—yes, including ways to monetize—often using AI and technology to scale your ideas.
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You’re an artist because you’re applying design thinking and your personal creativity to shape something that didn’t exist before.
If I were entering college today…
I’d find the interest that sparks joy within, and then minor in design, data, or coding. These skills are bridges; they make your ideas practical and bring your creativity to life. They help you transform passion into purpose, and purpose into impact. That entrepreneurial spirit is how we live in alignment with our dharma, our unique calling, while giving back to our community and the world.
It’s not “the one,” it’s “the next one”
Your career is not a single destination; it’s a lifetime of experiences: personal, professional, artistic, spiritual. Each new step adds another note to your symphony. Don’t stress over finding “the one.” Look for “the next one.”
Your voice - your diversity of thought and lived experience - is what sets you apart in an AI-driven world. Never lose it. Your voice resonates loudest when you spend time in places and with people you love, dedicating yourself to the work that matters to you.
Show your work and how you think
Remember long division? It wasn’t just about the answer, it was about showing your work. The same is true now. AI can get to an answer quickly, but your process: your reasoning, your empathy, your unique pathway, is what makes the work human. Share your process. Invite others into your journey. That’s where connection and opportunity live. Your voice and perspective matters.
Try this (a mini practice)
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Curiosity Sprint (2 weeks): choose one interest and explore it for 20 minutes a day. Keep a simple log: questions, insights, and next steps.
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Design One Tiny Thing: sketch a small solution related to your interest—a flyer, a landing page, a playlist, a script, a simple dataset—and make a first draft.
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Show Your Work: post your process notes or reflections. Invite feedback. Iterate once.
Create.
Keep tuning.
Carve what you see.
And remember: you’re not searching for a single perfect path.
You’re composing a lifetime of meaningful movements, one next step at a time.
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Outro:
I’m excited to share that I’ll be hosting a webinar this October with Dana Ponsky, a college admissions expert and coach for parents and families navigating the journey of choosing colleges and majors. We’d love for you to join us!
Did this article resonate with you? Drop me a line: maria@108coaching.com
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