Today, there is an extreme amount of pressure on young adults to attend college. Not only is there the pressure of choosing to attend college, and in turn taking on the commitments that go along with being in college, but also the pressure of choosing the "right" major.
To be honest, I completely understand why parents, guidance counselors, and teachers highly recommend that those choosing to go to college pursue a degree that is consistent with the current needs and direction of the global job market. Such degrees largely revolve around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education in the 21st century. Without a doubt, having some form of STEM education is advantageous, since many, if not most, current jobs require people to have some math and technology skills--which are very transferable.
However, if you are like me, STEM is not your forte. To be fair, I do enjoy, and am quite good at, certain topics within the science, math, and technology realms—not so much engineering, however. Frankly though, my interests lie in the liberal arts. I love to read, write, study history, understand aspects of philosophy, and debate.
In the 21st century, as in the recent past and future, careers in STEM will be in abundance and advantageous. With the technology industry booming and expanding, pharmaceutical and medical sectors developing, scientific research refining, and engineering capabilities evolving, a vast amount of the jobs that comprise the global job market focus around STEM education.
The perceived benefits of pursuing a STEM-oriented degree--mainly job security and a nice paycheck--drive many people to pursue such degrees even if they are not interested in them. Moreover, the uncertainty of the job market, in conjunction with the benefits of having a STEM-oriented degree, drive many parents, counselors, and teachers to convince their college-bound child or student to choose a "wise", "valuable", and "secure" degree--essentially a degree related to STEM.
So, is it a mistake to pursue a degree more closely related to the liberal arts than a STEM-oriented education?
If any portion of this article can be of value, I hope that it is this piece of personal advice:
Unequivocally follow your passion.
When someone follows their passion, they will be successful in whatever they do. If your passionate about writing and a degree in journalism interests you, pursue that degree. Even though the amount of jobs available for journalism majors may not be as abundant as the jobs available for biomedical engineering majors, if you work hard enough and are tenacious, you will not only be successful, but you will also know that the major you chose was the "right" major.
Follow your passion. Everything works out in the end.
