In high school, whenever someone asked me what I was planning on studying in college I responded with, “I have no idea.” I think it’s expected to not know what you want to study or major in before you get to college. It’s even normal to not know what you want to major in after being in college for a year or two. Telling people that I had no idea what I wanted to study was partly a lie, though. Because I did have an idea. I knew what I did not want to study in college, (which is always a good place to start). Though I was not bad at the subjects, I never really enjoyed math or science classes in high school. I knew that I wouldn’t be happy studying them in college. So I didn’t.
The decision to pursue a degree in the liberal arts, humanities, or social sciences at a university with renowned STEM programs in a city dominated by its growing tech presence isn’t always an easy decision to make. This is because some people base such choices on whether it will help them get a well-off, high paying job after college. People really cannot be blamed for having this mindset. They are, after all, pouring a lot of money into a college degree. It makes sense to want to earn that money back someday.
There lies a problem, however, when people equate a high value and importance of STEM degrees with a non-value or unimportance of non-STEM degrees. It is often joked about that those who study the arts, humanities, or social sciences are setting themselves up to be unemployed after college. But the indisputable truth is that these areas of study are important. These areas of study help us understand each other through language, history, and culture. They foster social justice and equality. They encourage us to think creatively. They teach us to ask questions about our world.
But honestly, who cares if someone else agrees or disagrees that your major is “important” or “valuable” or not. Nobody’s opinion on that matters except yours. What matters is your own perceived value of how you are spending your time at college. It is important to ask yourself if the classes you are taking are relevant in achieving your longer term goals. Or perhaps more importantly, you should ask yourself if the classes you are taking are ones that you actually enjoy. If what you are doing doesn’t have value for you and is not making you happy, why do it? I reflect back on the twelve years of being constantly told by educators in the public school system that I have to think, act, and be a certain way. College is where I decided I was through with doing what others told me I should be doing. If I major in Communication and take film classes and write a bunch of articles about my opinions on things, it’s because it matters to me and makes me happy. Your major, what you study, and the way you spend your time at college should matter to you and make you happy, too.