For some students, being at college and dealing with the stress of classes can cause confusion about whether or not college is for them.

"Growing up, my plan was to graduate high school, go to college and graduate, then get a job. I never thought anything different for me," OU alumna Melissa Brumfield said.

After switching her major several times, Brumfield started to have doubts about staying in college.

"College isn't for everyone, but neither is quitting," Brumfield said.

Brumfield attended OU for three years and dealt with numerous difficulties.

"I struggled and didn't like classes, but I assumed every college student hates class," Brumfield said.

Brumfield stayed enrolled because she assumed it was the step she was supposed to take.

"I was going through the motions, not caring, and I knew that wasn't right," she said.

Brumfield fully withdrew and is now working at a call center for Direct TV in Moore.

"Once I left, I realized how mature you have to be to go to college. My biggest goal is still to graduate and get a college degree," she said.

Some students who graduate college still explore other options before settling with the path to higher education. Many take four or five years, but former OU student Danny Mahaffey took 13 years to earn his college degree.

"My freshman year was disappointing. I partied too much and didn't study enough," Mahaffey said.

Mahaffey started attending OU in 1992.

"I dropped out because after changing majors for the sixth time, I decided that I was wasting money, trying to go school without any direction," Mahaffey said.

After dropping out, Mahaffey worked as a corporate bartender trainer for Don Pablo's, traveling around the country training bartenders.

"I was making great money doing what I was doing, and thought I'd be able to do it for a while. Then I started growing up. I realized that I didn't want to bartend forever, so I decided to go back to school at OU," Mahaffey said.

Mahaffey returned to OU in 1997 and received his degree in sociology and English literature in 2005.

"It took me a long time, but I finally got it together and found what I wanted to do in life," Mahaffey said.

University College offers students like Mahaffey, who are undecided about their major, different programs that can help, according to the University College Web site, www.ou.edu/univcoll.

Diane Mayes, director of academic advising for University College, counsels students who are undecided about their major.

"We start out with a general conversation about what they could be attracted to and what they've been thinking," Mayes said.

She said some students may not know why they are at OU.

"We have a soul-searching conversation to find something they have a passion about. That's when you find out if a college degree is necessary for them," Mayes said.

Incoming freshman can take Gateway to College Learning, which explores different majors, Mayes said.

Julie Kirkoff was a student at Emporia State majoring in collegiate ministry in Kansas before moving to Norman.

"I liked school and did okay, but the field I was going for, I knew I didn't want to do it anymore. I'm more a doer rather than a thinker," Kirkoff said.

After withdrawing from Emporia State, Kirkoff moved to Norman to be near friends.

"I needed something different and I wanted to be more independent," Kirkoff said. "Right now, I'm thinking of a culinary school in Portland. I'm really enjoying Oklahoma, and lately, I've been thinking of going to OU."
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