Taryn
My name is Taryn, and I am from a little town outside of Philadelphia. Neither of my parents attended college, so I searched high and low for the perfect fit. Stepping foot onto the Penn State campus at University Park took away my breath, and hearing about its extensive list of majors and the DUS program sealed the deal.
I lived in Discover House my freshman year, which is a dorm floor of students who are all unsure of the major they would like to pursue. We worked together with our adviser, Laura Brown, to find the perfect fit. I cannot tell you the number of times I thought I had found the right major. I began by pursuing Political Science, but the classes did not interest me. I moved on to Sociology, then English, and even thought I was going to become a nurse after I had an epiphany over winter break. By taking a wide range of classes and completing a Certificate of Engagement through DUS, I finally had the moment I had been waiting for. I found my major, and everything else started to fall into place.
So what did I finally declare as my major at Penn State? I will be graduating in May with a degree in Communication Arts and Sciences and a minor in German. CAS combines my love for writing, speech, and persuasion with my desire to apply my major to any career path I may choose. It leaves the door wide open for the many opportunities that lie ahead. I have already used my skills from CAS to become a leader. I am the president and founder of a breast cancer club at Penn State and also a 2013 Rules & Regulations Captain for THON. Some think that the number of majors at Penn State can be overwhelming, but I am so thankful for it! DUS is there to help you weed through it all and find what is right for you.
