I admit it - I was one of those kids in high school.

You know, the one who was in every club, every group. Anything I could join, I was there. I figured the more yearbook pictures I was in, the better.

But then I came to college.

I could no longer be a mediocre actress and star in a play, or be an "energetic" tennis player and be captain of the team. Campus organizations are full-time commitments and have a 40,000-person talent pool to choose from.

This was one of the biggest realizations I had as a freshman - I could no longer do it all. As depressing as this was, it was a reality.

As you get older, people usher you down a narrower path. Adults (my parents' friends, my friends' parents, etc.) constantly inquire as to my major and exact career plans. What happened to fostering variety and well-roundedness?

Basically, college students are expected - in four years (give or take) - to disregard the different activities they invested so much time in and focus solely on one interest that will translate into a profession.

But sometimes people are forced into that decision too early. The reason well-roundedness is appropriately fostered in high schoolers is because it gives them a chance to experience all possible options before heading down that narrow path.

Multiple majors or several different external specialties should be encouraged at universities. Sure, it might make your stay a semester or two longer than planned, but coming out with a full tool belt is worth the effort.

Although I had to do it all in high school, the one thing that became my top priority and greatest love was my involvement with the newspaper. Because of the aforementioned societal expectation, this translated into majoring in journalism. I, in effect, abandoned my teaching aspirations, my love for music, film, etc.

What I didn't learn until later in my college career was how all of these things could be incorporated into my love for journalism.

Journalism professor, music writer, film critic - I just had to pin down the reporter thing, I figured I'd deal with details later.

College students shouldn't be encouraged to limit themselves to one area of study. Instead, we should be encouraged to take into account the things we enjoy and thrive at and look to integrate them into a career.

I love music, but who am I to criticize it? I was in choir and even had a short-lived stint in band. I can read notes. I have lots of CDs. This does not constitute an expert.

Everyone listens to music, but not everyone has a grasp on how that music is produced. If I'm taking my record-buying cues from someone claiming to have expertise, they better not have the job solely based on their large collection of vinyl.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying every critic has to be Eric Clapton if they want to remark on guitar playing. But is it so much to ask that they might have picked up a guitar and have some semblance of the instrument's difficulty?

Before I get off on a rant, my point, and I do have one, is that we should use our opportunity, while at college, to usurp the knowledge around us. Any student can be more informed in his or her area of study by taking one class or joining one club.

If you played an instrument in high school, audition for a concert band - they need more than just music majors. Same with the choirs. You get one credit and you can be in an audition or non-audition ensemble.

There are also clubs for everyone on campus. There's everything from the Accounting Club to the Zoological Students Association.

So although it appears as if your options are limited, when you step onto this daunting campus, the possibilities are endless.

Take advantage of it - before the narrow path closes that much more.

Katie Byrne is the State News opinion editor. Reach her at byrnecat@msu.edu.