Student writer Andrea Day contributed to this story.
School of Education student Megan Majors leveraged an entrepreneurial spirit and drive to overcome mental and physical boundaries, earning her B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences this spring.
A dream since the beginning
Born in Fort Collins and raised in the small town of Niwot, Colorado, north of Boulder, Majors was so inspired by her high school FCS coursework that she decided to look into a career in family and consumer sciences.
“In high school, I loved my family and consumer sciences classes,” said Majors. “I took every FCS class my school offered and participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. My teacher was wonderful – she has always been a major source of support and inspiration to me.”
Majors chose to apply to Colorado State University so she could stay in state while enjoying the green campus and excellent FCS program offered by CSU.
“I had the opportunity to meet my academic adviser, Dawn Mallette, while I was still in high school,” said Majors, “and instantly knew that I had made the right decision. It felt like a program full of kind, compassionate individuals.”
Being able to take courses in an array of interesting topics drew Majors to the program, although she tends to favor the health and wellness aspects of the field.
“I was really attracted to the interdisciplinary nature of the program,” she said. “As someone with a wide variety of interests, the FCS program allowed me to experience a diverse range of classes within the College of Health and Human Sciences and tailor my degree to my interests.”
‘I found what I’m meant to do’
Majors’ undergraduate experience included a battle with a digestive disorder that wreaked havoc on both her physical and mental health. She discovered yoga in 2016 as a way to support her health, and earned her 200-hour yoga certification in August 2018.
The practice helped Majors find her calling and community, and reclaim her health. Now, she teaches yoga at Holistic Yoga School & Studio, and frequents Kirtan and sacred cacao ceremonies held at the shala.
“Yoga has changed my life in more ways than I can name,” she said. “I feel like I have spent a great deal of my life constantly searching for that one thing that would bring me joy and make me feel whole. The wisdom I have gained from studying the teachings and practice of yoga have helped me find peace. I found my tribe, my kula, my community. I found my own voice. I found what I am meant to do and share with the world.”
Majors has also reconnected to her love of art. In high school, Majors created and sold pressed-flower artwork at local art shows and online through her Etsy shop. While an undergraduate student, she had to put her business on hold to focus on school and other goals. Now that she has graduated, her focus on art has returned.
“I’ve started to create new pieces, this time allowing my creativity to simply flow without any intention of selling it,” said Majors. “Instead, I’ve been sharing my work with friends and incorporating my love for preserving and creating with nature into upcoming yoga retreats I am facilitating. The style of my creations have grown and changed just as I have, and I hope to one day start selling these newly inspired pieces.”
A future of holistic wellness
Majors said she appreciates the connections she made at CSU, both in the tight-knit FCS community and throughout campus. She is excited to create new communities and experiences locally and around the globe, through yoga and wellness.
“After graduation, I plan to continue teaching yoga locally and abroad as I serve as a founding member of the 9 Degree Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing innovative holistic practices to all beings,” she said. “I feel very fortunate to work alongside seven inspiring women to make the gifts of yoga, meditation, flow arts, Reiki, acupuncture, and therapy accessible to the community. I look forward to having the opportunity to travel and learn from the wisdom of different cultures.”
The FCS program taught Majors what she is capable of overcoming; she hopes that future graduates will be able to find their passions and people as she has.
“Over time, I learned that peace does not mean the absence of struggle, but rather the presence of love,” said Majors. “My advice to future graduates is to find your passion, and to find your people. If you don’t feel connected to what you are doing or who you are spending your time with, I would encourage you to go out and seek that connection, whether that be on-campus or off-campus.”
The School of Education is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
