“Did you pursue an art degree because it was easier?”

“Do you think medical schools are going to consider you if your experience is only in art?”

“Health care jobs won’t take you seriously when they see that your degree is in art.”

As a Bachelor of Arts I have stumbled upon a significant amount of criticism from society, bashing my love of Art and Sciences. At times this is overwhelming but I am no stranger to having constantly prove my self. These are only some of the questions I’ve received when I tell people that I graduated with a double major in Graphic Design/Painting and I plan to become a doctor.

I would like to clear up any misconceptions of art being an “easy” major. It required dedication. Designing, drawing, painting, and sculpting requires more skill and critical thinking than you would expect. When you walk into an anatomy and physiology class, you learn about the human body, where everything is, how everything works, what may cause a disease etc. and these are all facts. You are studying something that EXISTS. You walk into a painting or design class, you are expected to make something that DOES NO EXISTS. It’s a process that could last weeks or months and it could still not meet someone’s expectations. I challenge individuals who think art is an easy subject to attended an art class and create a piece of art that is pleasing to the eye from nothing.

Now I want everyone to understand I am by no means belittling what science students have to go through. I actually started off as a biology major for my first two years of college, so I’ve been through it and I know it is no walk in the park. My love for science continued even as an art major. Because of this I have the right to compare and contrast both career paths because I love both of them. I have gone through all the science lectures and exams and study sessions like any other pre-med student. My passion was not limited to the sciences or art…. It was divided between the two. I decided to educate myself on both, putting both the left and right side of my brain to work.

I decided to pursue medical school because I want to be a surgeon, so once I graduated my journey continued took anatomy and physiology during the summer. It has been a year and I have taken most of the classes required to apply for medical school and I studied for the MCAT. Although it has been challenging, I do not feel as much pressure and stress that I felt while finishing my art requirements. No there aren’t exams and practicals that I had to take in my drawing and design classes, but if you have never sat-in during a critique of your work or someone’s work, you’d be surprised as to how much stress and frustration art students face daily; if anything art students and science students have that in common. Critique rooms are the legit torture rooms of hell. So please, save yourself the embarrassment and never say that art is an easier career path or a simpler subject to major, because you will look like a dummy.

I have spoken to various physicians, nurses, and instructors and they all remind me that the works that I am able to make, not many can do let alone pre-med students. I am actually at an advantage for being an art major as opposed to a biology major because I show dedication to medicine and that I am able to adapt easily with change. I stand out because I know more than just the sciences. I have a degree in art and I am still able to get goods grades in my science courses. My dedication to science and art is enough to convince anyone to take me seriously.

I have no chill and have no problem having a sit down with art haters and persuading them to see things my way. I will not rest until I have made my side of the story heard.