20 years from now I’d like to imagine myself surrounded by the deep green foliage of a rainforest, cocooned up in a hammock with a piña colada and favorite novel in hand. Key word imagine. I’m quickly thrown back into reality and notice the overflowing pile of chemistry notecards I have yet to get through.
I find myself daydreaming a little more than I should, but isn’t that for most of us college students? We’re so eager to see what the world has to offer us. The endless sea of possibilities we possess at the ripe age of 18. I too often find myself anxiously awaiting the future that I forget to focus on the present…which in my case consists of a grueling chemistry exam and an eight-page research paper.
In little to no time we will need to declare our majors and begin the required courses to stay on track to graduate in four years. Internships, summer jobs, and shadow dates will quickly fill our upcoming calendars. Before we know it picking a career has become more like locking in a profitable business deal. In order to pay off my college debt I will need to make x amount of dollars a year. Sadly, little do we see students pursuing careers in what they are truly passionate in. At the end of the day, the fast-paced, American lifestyle is a lot more costly than we’d like to believe. The real question is, do you follow your dreams and embark on a lifetime of excitement and uncertainty? Or do you take the responsible route and choose the career path with the most “promising” financial future? And maybe for those lucky ones, they will have the opportunity to encounter both.
That is a question only you can answer. However, some people are not as fortunate to have that freedom. Family pressures as well as financial pressures can so easily steer one away from pursuing the career they have always had a passion for. Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics also known as STEM careers have become the most highly esteemed in our country. These majors are statistically the highest paying, however, the conception that financial success can only come from STEM is flawed.
According to U.S. News, overall, 40 percent of bachelor’s degrees earned by men and 29 percent earned by women are now in STEM fields. Even Obama himself has made a push for an increase in STEM curriculum to be implemented in grade schools around the country. Feeling a little pressured now? We are so often bombarded by these societal pressures, to the point that we don’t even pick up on them anymore. Like that one girl in your math class that was urged by her professor to pursue STEM because “there is a high demand for women in the field.” Little did the professor know she planned to pursue photography instead. I also can attest to dealing with these pressures. However, my decision to pursue nursing (ironically STEM) is based on my passion for helping and working with people. As a kid I was also the girl that excelled at math at a since a young age, but I knew choosing a career based on salary and demand based on the fact that I am a female, would never trump my decision.
There is a demand for workers of all of types of careers. The idea that, majoring in anything else besides STEM will lead to disappointment and financial failure is heavily stretched. Women and men alike should stop being discouraged to abandon their dreams and talents simply because of the fear of failure.
We as a society need to be more supportive and uplifting towards all majors because they are all equally vital to the success of our country. Why is that STEM majors are so heavily praised for their major choice, compared to a student considering a career in education or psychology? What would this world be without the thinkers, the creators, or the intellectuals? It’s time we stop putting the humanities to the shame, and work together to include a world full of creators, thinkers, scientists, educators, and artists alike. Not even two of us on this earth have the same-wired brain. We are all uniquely blessed with talents and skills that differ from those around us. With this being said, we shouldn’t feel pressured to limit our creativity to fit in the perfect cookie cutter mold of just the STEM major. STEM majors are immensely talented individuals, however; that doesn’t mean other majors should be given any less recognition. So be confident. Be proud of the major of your choice because it is your skill and your passion. And remember the opportunities to make an impact on this world are yours for the taking.