Lost Dilettantes Among A Generation Of Ambitious Innovators
Start writing a post
Student Life

Lost Dilettantes Among A Generation Of Ambitious Innovators

Under the pressure to earn good money yet do something meaningful, dilettantes are still trying to figure out their direction in life as their peers are making strides in their careers.

143
Lost Dilettantes Among A Generation Of Ambitious Innovators
Photo by Tookapic on Pexels

Having experienced the devastation of the Great Recession, millennials are au fait with the value of job security. Worried for our futures, our parents urged us to excel in every academia and be sensible when making career choices, which meant choosing a college concentration that will land a job right after graduation with a nice salary. Having stressfully excelled in every subject, some millennials are left unable to distinguish which one of those exhaustive nights studying was spent on a subject they truly enjoyed. The pressure they faced blurred their school years—a time that should have been spent on discovering personal interests and getting a glimpse of independence. They become overachievers with no sense of purpose or goal.

Millennials are dependent on their parents until a much older age than previous generations, because education is crucial for success now more than ever. With the skyrocketing cost of higher education, the idea of a student paying for his or her tuition with a part-time job has declined to fiction. Students have difficulty choosing their majors because they are unsure of their interests and concerned with whether the major will lead to a stable salary. Those whose interests align with a subject with high-earning potentials have the envy of those struggling to enjoy their majors that were chosen only for the job prospects.

Our generation values individualism, creativity, and meaningful work. In this culture of nonconformity, being unique and pursuing our passion is the ideal. It becomes a paradox to pursue individuality while seeking stability; we want to be different, but are we not the same when we go into a field only for the reason that a lot of money can be made? The juxtaposed value of “unique stability” of contemporary students can breed overachievers who ambitiously move forward with creative ideas as well as dilettantes who are interested in an array of subjects but cannot decide which to settle on.

When I was little, I loved drawing and painting. I wanted to be an artist, but that dream was quickly discarded when my parents told me that most artists struggle to earn a stable income. Throughout most of high school, I wanted to be a doctor because I was enticed by the career’s six-figure potential. In the last year of high school, I applied to colleges with my mind set on business. Now, as a dilettante, I’m a business student with some artwork and some laboratory research experience but an amateur in all three focuses.

Older adults often mention how most people go through career changes and to not stress over what major to choose. However, millennials are entering a job market that has poor potentials and fierce competition. It is advantageous to have a pre-planned career path to obtain the relevant coursework and experience needed without wasting money on unrelated classes. Troubled with funding their education, finding their passion, and contemplating earning potentials, dilettantes feel like they’re moving in circles—directionless and lost yet sheltered at the same time.

Not all millennials are dilettantes. When one has their interests figured out and their career paths planned, he or she becomes a bright innovator. Start-ups are founded, technology is advanced, and scientific discoveries are made by millennials, making the generation known for its creativity and innovation. However, a group is often forgotten in this fast-paced race. Dilettantes are still trying to find themselves. They feel detached as their peers move ahead but retain the hope that one of their many endeavors will transform into a passion and that the passion can lead to a prosperous future.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58093
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37422
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959072
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

192677
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments