Did someone say Declaration Day? That’s right, sophomores, October 9th is looming over our heads (#tomorrow), so you better find time to submit those concentration forms on the new and totally improved my.harvard. While many of us are eagerly awaiting our chance to meet a new cohort of like-minded peers, others are certainly less than thrilled. Whatever your mood, we’re certain that you’ll either come to love or hate October 9th.

Love it — SRS

October is the best month for two reasons: Halloweekend fun and Declaration Day! While I still can’t decide what I want to be for Halloween, I’ve had my mind set on concentration requirements for what feels like ages. I’m like a mom of four battling through Costco during Saturday afternoon. Dedicated, determined, and maybe a little panicked.

I have patiently checked off one thing after another on my concentration to-do list. So come Friday, I can’t wait to wear my best dark academia fit and pose with my concentration sign in front of Widener. Seriously, I already have a photographer booked.

There’s nothing more Harvard-ian than having the future laid out with plenty of goalposts, climbing the requirements ladder like it’s a corporate one. While we might add a joint, citation, or secondary (or all three) down the line, I know our futures are bright and meticulously outlined. Thank god there’s finally a formal opportunity to elevator pitch our employability to someone besides defense contractors.

Besides, Declaration Day is the perfect opportunity for my parents to brag about their star Harvard daughter. Smiling ear to ear, they can craft a Facebook or LinkedIn post with enough detail that people will think they’re the Math concentrators. And they can finally stop telling people I spend all of their money on food. Seriously, that credit card statement is always such a snitch.

Declaration Day is another certain stepping stone to my future. I’m as confident as I can be—the only thing I fear is my GPA or a bad angle for my Insta dump. Besides, I’ll make more connections with my newfound community of like-minded peers and professors. That’s networking, baby!

Hate it — SYT

October is the scariest month for two reasons: Halloween (actually, shopping at the Allston Spirit Halloween store), and DECLARATION DAY. DUN DUN DUNNNN.

It’s time to be honest with myself. I have commitment issues. In my first three semesters, I enrolled in every class except those that would actually count toward concentration requirements. Now I’m on track to earn a language citation and secondaries in two vastly different fields, neither of which have anything to do with my professional goals. Can’t wait to see what jobs my A.B. in Lollygagging will get me!

It’s more common than you think, too. Harvard students, for the most part, are generalists. That baller Math 55 kid can also offer riveting insights that parallel Jaden Smith’s takes on the world’s socioeconomic state. When you’re passionate about learning everything, how do you choose?

And what degree is gonna look the best on your CV just in case you decide to take a stab at corporate recruiting? We’re told that our first year at Harvard is meant to be an “exploratory” phase: a time to learn what excites you. But they forget one important fact: eighteen-year-olds are sheep. A year was plenty of time to figure things out, but I was too busy comping clubs and dipping into prerequisite classes. Now I don’t even know who I am or what I genuinely like.

I’ve considered a billion career pivots. At one point, I was going into finance. Then, I wanted to indulge my childhood obsession with mummies by becoming an archaeologist. Not to mention those controversial debates in my Expos that I absolutely loved, so maybe I could also double as a lawyer! This will likely change seven more times over the next two years (actually, within the next week).

They tell us that we can change our course plans anytime. Declaring a concentration basically just means officially enrolling in email lists and being invited to department-wide study breaks. But switching plans down the line can be dangerous. I’m not trying to spend my junior fall enrolled in five concentration courses. The cold, bony grip of October 9th is tightening. And I, for one, am not excited.

In the end, we’ll get through these treacherous times together, dearest fellow sophomores. So whether you feel like you’re signing your life away or diving deeper into a new intellectual community, just make sure you take cute pictures with your concentration banner. That’s really all that matters. And if you’re officially declared but emotionally undecided, just take pictures with multiple banners. You’ll want to cover your bases in case you change your mind!