What is Your Major? 

I’m pursuing a major in business but my passion lies somewhere else. But there is one thing that I know I do enjoy. To read epic-world fantasy books. When I read these types of books, my imagination grows (I read A LOT of epic-world fantasy books during the pandemic). The picture of the world the authors are creating becomes imprinted in my mind. I feel what the characters are feeling, I can see the world as vividly as if it were caught in 4k. These books give me inspiration to write my book. But I know that writing is difficult and I’m not too good at it. Yet, I know I can translate my passion for reading these otherworldly books into something special. I want to use my imagination to create something, this can be more than just a book. It could be a product or service…it would be like creating my world. That’s why I’m taking entrepreneurship courses. Because I as an entrepreneur, creating things is part of the job. Now, let’s explore how my passion for fantasy literature aligns with my academic interests such as business, sociology, and psychology.

Business

In a way, building a business is like writing a story. Each story begins with an idea. An idea that comes from an experience, or a lesson. It doesn’t pop out of nowhere, it requires the process of creation. Authors illustrate their world –the story– through words. They build characters, landscapes, and civilizations. The details create the story and manifest the story into a novel. A novel that affects people’s lives. People want to read it. It gives the readers (consumers) an outlet to use their imagination. It becomes fun. People purchase it and people store it and advertise it, just like a company or startup. Amazon was invented on an idea. An idea that came from one man’s experiences and what he wanted to put in this world; an online store. The idea, page by page becomes a bigger world. The idea develops, the narrative having twists and turns. Failures and successes. Details of the operations are created. There are always moving parts, from beginning to end. 

Sociology

Now, let me explain how sociology intertwines with my passion for epic-world fantasy books. I’ve been considering doing a sociology minor. This is because, in these epic-world settings, the author must create his societies and develop these societies. How do these societies interact? What makes them move? The author understands all the dynamics. That doesn’t mean the author knows how to solve all the conflicts, only that they understand their motives. The ability to understand those dynamics makes the world more believable and real to the reader. Making a world real is extremely important. Because often authors are building such alien worlds that relating to those worlds is difficult. When characters of these worlds have crazy powers, like communing with the dead or shape-shifting, having a world that has similar world aspects to real life makes it believable. If a society deals with common problems such as inequality, poverty, or social movements that enables the reader to form that connection between the book and the real world.   This is because often the world the author is forming is based on some parts of the real world. For example, in my favorite epic-world fantasy book series of all time, “The Wheel of Time”, there exists a society called the Aiel. They are a warrior tribe that is strongly connected to their land. It is a deep source of passion for them, and they believe it shapes them. Throughout the series, the characters from this society are dealing with the thought that they may be consumed by modernity. They realize that they must adapt or lose their culture. I find this interesting since it sounds similar to the problems that Native American culture went through. These are the questions I want to be asking when creating my ideas. Who do these problems affect? How can they be dealt with? I want my work to mean something. To have an impact on these societies. Thus, I want to understand them in the way an author understands his society.

Psychology 

Finally, since I want to try new things I plan on taking psychology courses, possibly exploring a minor. Psychology plays a major role in storytelling. The character must have human traits that are relatable to the reader. Even though it may not be realistic, if the reader can understand the characters they are reading then it will keep them interested. The characters need to be believable and must have motivations, and internal conflict. For example, in the “Wheel of Time” the main character, Rand Al’Thor, is thrust into a savior role. Throughout the series, the reader is placed inside his head and comes to understand his internal conflict between who he wants to be and what he is already destined to be. The reader sees his slow progress towards insanity and Rand’s awareness of this causes him to develop extreme paranoia. Readers connect with the positive qualities and the faults of a character, like Rand Al’Thor, a skill that mirrors your ability to read a situation. In the area of business, this can help because being able to understand the environment around me is essential to business success. For example, having a thorough knowledge of industry trends and the fluctuations in the market could make or break my career. This extends past business into entrepreneurship, where the ability to understand the mind of your customer is essential. Minoring in psychology aligns with my goal of connecting with people and enables me to sell products or services more efficiently.

Advice for Future and Past me 

All these possibilities can be intimidating when viewed holistically. But when looked at in individual pieces, it gives me a sense of hope. Maybe, I will find a passion that fits who I am. My advice to my younger self would be, that not everything is going to be figured out. Patience is key. I don’t mean to wait for your passion to hit you; instead, actively seek it out. Don’t let what you think is possible limit yourself. Embrace the journey, explore every possibility, and be ready to focus when the time comes.

In conclusion, my passion for epic-world fantasy books could be the key to unlocking my true calling. Through exploring different majors such as business, sociology, and psychology, I hope to create skills and knowledge that will allow me to succeed when I do find my passion. Allowing me to have an impact on both the fictional and real worlds.