A Struggle With Depression Inspired Ray to Change Majors from Business to Psychology

"I’m at the point where money isn’t as important to me as just being happy. I know what it feels like to not be happy for a really long time."

Watch the video and read the full transcript below

"I do value education a lot. But I would say kind of for a different reason now. Before, when I was growing up, I was like, ok, if I get my college education, get my career, and then I’ll have money and, like, my own house and what not. But now I’m at a point where money isn’t as important tome as just being happy, which has a lot to do with depression.

My name is Ray Serani.

I go to Georgia State University, and was born in Karachi, Pakistan. I moved to the US when I was four. So my upbringing was pretty strict. I mean, yeah, growing up, the number one thing, education. So, year, definitely had to go to school, always doing your homework and stuff, stamped into my from childhood.

Can you share a challenge you’ve faced and how it’s shaped you?

In high school, from tenth grade all the way until Sophomore year of college, I was just severely depressed. In those first two years, through tenth grade and 11th grade, I didn’t know it. I just thought, ok, I hate stuff, I hate a lot of things. And it is what it is I guess. It was a lot of irrational thoughts, like typical things with depression. It was all check, check, check for me. And senior year, my second semester, in January, I was so tired of everything, well I had attempted suicide at that time. And yeah, that just changed a lot of things.

What keeps you motivated?

"Up until, like, sophomore year of college, I was still suffering from depression, but I was going to therapy, and on medication - antidepressants. And I was researching some things on my own about it, and it seemed pretty interesting. And that’s kind of how I got into psychology. My first two years I was a business major. But then after two years of business I was like, I can’t do this.

And then at the start of junior year I was, like, am I going to go the safe route of business, or should I go with psychology, because I like it? I really enjoy it.

I’m at the point where money isn’t as important to me as just being happy. I know what it feels like to not be happy for a really long time. So you know, whether it’s small things or big things that make me happy, that just feels so better. And I’m trying to just be more bold, and do things my way. That’s important for me. Yeah, I don’t want to go the typical route. So I went with Psych. And thats given me the courage to pursue things that may be risky, whether it’s career or whatever, so that in the long run, I can look back and just be like, I enjoyed my life."

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