The Parallels Between the Explore and Page Programs | Explore Program for Undeclared Students

We all know the feeling when you are about to graduate high school and the only question on everyone’s mind is, “What are you going to major in?” Fast forward to when you are about to graduate college, and the question has now changed to “what are you going to do now?” In both instances, these questions can be quite intimidating. And not having the right answer, or any answer at all, may seem like you’re doing something wrong. Spoiler alert: It’s okay not to have the answers. Luckily for me, I was able to explore my options not once, but twice through the Explore Program and the Page Program which led me to both a major and a career path I’m excited to pursue.

Starting out my college career in the Explore Program was one of the smartest decisions I made in regards to shaping my future. In high school, I was set on becoming a doctor. It was what everyone expected of me and what I expected of myself. That all changed my senior year of high school, when I began to question if I was really passionate enough about medicine to go down that path. Thankfully, Northeastern had the Explore Program which allowed me to delve into different topics that I otherwise would not have been given the opportunity to do so. I got to take classes in Psychology, International Affairs, and Communications. After two semesters, I was able to narrow down my interests to Communications and Media and Screen Studies with a minor in Business Administration. To say I did a complete 180 would be an understatement, but I have never regretted it and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to explore so many different options.

Now with a Communications degree comes many more questions, the main one being, “What are you going to do with that?” After my four years of college, I knew I wanted to work in the entertainment industry. Now, saying you want to work in the entertainment industry is just about as broad as saying you have a Communications degree. However, I lucked out once again with the NBC Page Program. This program enabled me to explore a variety of options when it comes to working in entertainment and media. Every page will work the late night shows and give studio tours as well as complete three assignments within the company: business, consumer, and content. My assignments included USA Brand Marketing & Social Media, Corporate Events, and E! News & Pop of the Morning. Along with my assignments, I was able to work on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Saturday Night Live, and the TODAY show. Over the past year, I have gained invaluable experiences through this program, especially for someone who had never worked in entertainment or media before, and have found my passion to pursue. With my last assignment being at E! News, I have found that I love entertainment news and want to explore field producing/reporting within that industry. Not only has the Page Program set me up for success in that regard, but it has also allowed me to broaden my horizons in understanding the world of entertainment.

If it has not been made clear yet, let me say it now: it is okay not to have all the answers. It’s okay to not know what to study at 18 and it’s okay to not know what career path to pursue at 22. Both the Explore Program and the Page Program showed me that exploring your options is part of the journey and there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to your own personal path.