Choosing a College Major: ORU’s Haley Carmack Offers Her Expert Advice
Hometown: Springfield, Missouri
Christian Caregiving and Counseling
“Undecided” … it’s one of the top classifications for college freshmen. It separates
those who don’t yet know from those who do know. But what do you call someone who
only thinks they know? In higher education, there isn’t a term for students who are
decided but aren’t truly “decided.” This was the situation for Haley Carmack, who
started at ORU as a business and ministry major.
“I’ve always had a passion for business,” Haley said, “always had dreams of starting a company that’s for Christ. But when I was taking business classes, I discovered it wasn’t something I enjoyed. I didn’t have any motivation, and I realized it wasn’t something that would excite me for the rest of my life.”
If at First You Don’t Succeed…
After her first semester at ORU, Haley decided to change her major to ministry and leadership. Her thinking was, “I don’t like business, but I’d love to work at a church.” At the time, Haley says she imagined herself helping and discipling young people. However, what you imagine isn’t always what you discover.
“It was the same experience I had with business,” Haley said. “I was sitting in class, and I asked myself, ‘Why am I not loving this?’ I kept thinking there has to be something more, but for me, there was just no spark.”
For Haley, this was two majors, two misses, and no spark. That summer, she travelled to South Africa with ORU Missions, questioning her next steps and what she wanted to do. During her time in South Africa, she thought about work, fulfillment, and serving the Lord. In considering her future, she says she put the Lord first, but she also prayed for a calling that would bring her joy.
“I knew the Lord had so much more for me at ORU,” Haley said. “So I went on a hike in South Africa, and I told God I didn’t know what to do with my life. The things I thought I wanted to do hadn’t sparked anything inside of me. During that moment, God brought a word to me. The word was ‘counseling.’ God told me I was meant to be a counselor.”
Some Sparks Take Time to Ignite
It took a trip to South Africa and a moment with God for Haley to find her spark. This semester, she’s enrolled in ORU’s Christian Caregiving and Counseling Program, a path that wasn’t on her radar a year ago. Having never been to counseling or therapy, Haley says she’s now discovering the need for and the importance of well-trained, Christian counselors.
“I’ve learned that counseling is the heart of discipleship. It’s working to help people feel known, seen, and loved. It’s reminding them that they belong to the Lord. This is the responsibility that God has for me; I can actually help people as a counselor.”
“I’ve learned,” Haley said, “that counseling is the heart of discipleship. It’s working to help people feel known, seen, and loved. It’s reminding them that they belong to the Lord. This is the responsibility that God has for me; I can actually help people as a counselor. Prayer is part of it; the Lord can do so much with prayer. But counseling also gives us practical tools—tools from God—that allow us to help people past their traumas and pain. These tools and prayer go hand in hand.”
For some college students, it’s a journey from “undecided” to “decided,” from “Why am I not loving this?” to “This is my calling!” With three majors in three semesters, Haley is an expert on this journey. It took her awhile—and a word from God—to truly decide on her future. For those who are still deciding, who are struggling to find their spark, Haley has this advice:
“The Lord is your good Shepherd,” Haley said, “and His leadership is good. God took me through two different majors that had nothing to do with what I'm doing now. During the journey, God showed me the different passions I have—things I’ll always be passionate about—and those passions eventually led me to counseling. For anyone who’s undecided, I’d encourage them to step out and allow the Lord to act. If you’re just a parked car, how’s God ever guide you? You have to take a step in faith. Even if you choose wrong, God will eventually take you where you need to go.”
Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 174 nations in the last 6 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.
