As one enters college, the decision on what major to declare is either based on the amount of money a career in this field will offer, or based on how much love one has for a specific field of study. Here is the difference between both.
Choosing a major because of the money…
After investing a tremendous amount of money into college, including costs of living and tuition, being able to attain a job that offers a large salary after graduating becomes increasingly important and desired. Hence, the process of declaring a major becomes highly influenced by the amount of money one will be able to receive from a job pertaining to this field of study. There are students that struggle intensely through rigorous classes of mathematics and chemistry, all for the sake of receiving a degree in the field of biology.
Likewise, there are students that become overwhelmingly stressed as they make their way through majors such as engineering and computer science. Despite how often these students complain about all of the work they have to do and how much they hate the subject they are learning, they remain loyal this this major—all because of the money. They want to become doctors, lawyers, surgeons, or technicians, which are a few of the professions that include high-paying salaries. The money is the ultimate motivation.
Choosing a major because of the love for it…
As students enter college, they may also carry the belief that they want to major in a subject that they will actually enjoy studying for four plus years. They want to choose a major that they are passionate about, that they appreciate and are eager to learn about. Perhaps the jobs related to this field of study do not offer the highest salaries, and students are aware of that, yet still decide to choose a major that genuinely interests them. Consequently, no matter how busy and stressful the workload of classes are, students do not mind it. They truly love what they are learning. Hence all of the work and studying involved becomes enjoyable -- a hobby. Students look forward to going to class, look forward to submitting assignments, and look forward to the challenges their major will bring forth, because they are in love with this subject.Ultimately, the main difference is that at a job that you hate, there is always too much time. You are constantly glancing at the clock to check what time it is and cannot wait to finally clock out. Time goes by slow, making a short 15 minutes feel like an exhausting two hours. You feel as if you are at work for too long and dread the tasks of your job.
At a job that you love, there is never enough time. You are constantly busy working on what you love, that by the end of the day you wish you had more time. You find yourself looking at the clock and feeling as if the day has gone by so fast. You actually would like to stay at work a while longer to finish tasks and projects that you are excited about.
So what are you after, the money or the passion? If you are lucky enough to find a career that consists of both qualities, then do not let this amazing opportunity pass. Go get it. Chase after it until it is yours, because your career becomes an immense part of your life.
