I’m a film major in Hollywood east and have become interested in education, but my parents don’t want me to be a teacher. What should I do? Am I even able to change my major? – a confused freshman

A: The majority of freshman currently are or will be in your situation with in the next year or so. I have yet to meet a single person in college who hasn’t changed their minor, major, concentration or didn’t know what they want to do at all. However, there are many opportunities to explore the areas that you are interested in. First, I would do some research on the education major to make sure that it’s something that you are really interested in. You can do this by searching the major requirements and course descriptions for the education major. You can also talk to you advisor about what the major entails. Secondly, if you really feel like education is something you would be interested in, your freshman year is the best year to make changes to your major. You don’t have to declare your major until your sophomore year, so now is the best time to experiment. If you find that your primary interest is film but you would still like to have experience with education, education studies is a safe bet for a minor. If you really can’t decide between the two, talk to your advisor about what you would need to do to double major. Double majoring requires more classes and work, but it may be worth it if you have more than one thing you are passionate about.

Having to deal with your parents may be a bit more complicated. The relationship you have with your parents is personal and something only you will be able to understand. Sit them down and have a serious discussion with them and try to see things from their perspective. If you express interest in education as something you are truly passionate about, it is probable that they will accept what you want to do.

-Sally Seahawk

I hear a lot of people complaining about how limited parking is on campus and I don’t really understand it. For what reasons would somebody choose to live miles away from campus, which takes up time sitting in traffic as well as money spent on gas, when they could much more easily live right off campus at a place like Lighthouse, Cove, or Progress and bike, walk, or shuttle to class instead?

Living close to campus has its benefits. However, there are several reasons why someone might choose to live miles away.

Some students choose to live far away because they want to live with their parents. I have a friend who lives on Oak Island and commutes to UNCW because she prefers to live with her parents rather than alone or with roommates. Other students may live with their parents for more binding reasons. For example, if one or more of their parents are sick and need to be cared for, they may want to stay at home with them. It is also possible that a student simply cannot afford to live away from home and go to school at the same time.

Although it is more convenient to live near campus, the cost can be much more expensive. A student who can’t afford to live in Progress may be able to afford living in some one-bedroom apartment miles away from campus. Just because something is more convenient, doesn’t mean it is necessarily the best option.

For others, the time and money spent driving to campus is a tradeoff that they are willing to make to live further away. Though you may think it is more convenient to live closer to campus, we all must make choices that are suitable to our lifestyles.

-Sally Seahawk

Ok so I’m black and I’m not into white guys. Is this considered racist?

This is a tricky question. I personally believe that you shouldn’t limit yourself or your love life by excluding an entire race of people. I wouldn’t call you a racist, but I think we can go a little more in depth about the difference between personal preference and prejudice.

It is perfectly fine for you to find certain traits attractive. However, someone can say “I don’t date white guys” and really mean “I don’t date white guys because they aren’t assertive enough.” I would define the second statement as prejudice because you imply that one trait is true for entire group of people. If you find that there is an implied ‘because’ after stating “I’m not into white guys,” I would suggest that you take a step back and evaluate your feelings. Do you really have no romantic or sexual feelings toward white men or is there a stereotype that you are trying to avoid?

Even if your preference has nothing to do with stereotypes, is it okay to dismiss an entire race of people? Is skin color really a matter of personal preference?  I don’t think that it is necessarily the best idea to set such a large boundary for yourself in terms of the dating world. However, it is up to you to decide whether your preferences are biased or if they are legitimate. No one else can tell you who you should and shouldn’t be attracted to.

It is okay to have personal preferences; but I want to encourage you to keep an open mind when it comes to your dating life.

-Sally Seahawk