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If traditional majors don鈥檛 fulfill what you want,听Jill Howard 鈥�19 has some advice: Create your own. That's what she did.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e passionate about a cross-discipline major or something that traditional majors don鈥檛 fulfill, it鈥檚 worth it to design your own,鈥� says听Howard, who 听designed her听major in social innovation and enterprise.听

Howard's听love for social innovation started back in high school;听she was taking business courses听and realized that she enjoyed the subject. Community service has also always been an important part of her life, so听her major听"utilizes business as a force for good and is the perfect combination of my two interests,鈥� she says.

To be able to combine business and community service into her major was essential.听For example, Howard explains how the company TOMS is involved with social innovation. TOMS is a one-for-one company that donates a pair of shoes for every pair purchased.听This type of work was exactly what she wanted to be involved with. During her senior year of high school, she conducted a year-long project听researching the field of innovation and creating a business plan for a social enterprise that she created herself.

Taking charge of your future path is important for college students, and designing your own major is one big step in the right direction.

Initially, Howard wanted to major in marketing and management, but when she met the director of the Social Innovation听and Enterprise听Center, Fiona Wilson, she decided to go down the path of designing her own. She says she听wanted to have complete control over her听academics听and to shape her college experience.听

Howard encourages other students听not to be afraid to be different and听not to subject themselves to a traditional major if it's not the right fit. Designing your own major takes a vast amount of creativity and proves that you have a vision for yourself. Taking charge of your future path is important for college students, and designing your own major is one big step in the right direction, she says.

The Center for Social Innovation and Enterprise听provides students with opportunities to become more involved around campus. One opportunity听that Howard has taken advantage of is听Semester in the City. She wanted a taste of the 9 to 5 life before graduation, and since Semester in the City is a partnership with the Center for Social Innovation and Enterprise, it was perfect match.听

Howard spent the fall semester interning with the economic growth team at the working on programs related to听economic and racial equity initiatives.听Her goal?听To leave Boston with a听stronger personal and professional network听as well as听enhanced knowledge and skills related to economic growth, community development听and the social听sector. 听

Howard was recently profiled by in their story about business schools that specialize in social innovation, ""