I am a double major in psychology and studio art ; i'm adding a minor in biology, and I have a concentration in general psychology. I go to a school where STEM programs are rigorous, so if anyone majors in something other than engineering, pharmacy, pre-medicine, etc. people feel entitled to make assumptions regarding our intelligence, work ethic, or free time.

To be fair, my academic interests do appear to be all over the place. They are. I won't deny that, because I won't deny the fact that I have interests that lie on multiple points of the available spectrum. I plan on becoming a psychiatrist, which explains 3 of my 4 areas of study; however, art helps me with my anxiety as well as my depression and I am not ashamed to say that- so I study it.

I don't think it would be surprising of me to say that it annoys the hell out of me when people talk down on my majors. I have met multiple people who have felt the need to say, "oh you have a cake major," or "you must have a lot of time on your hands," or "wow, why are you going to school here?" after discussing my academics with them in general conversation. Whether these people were friends, acquaintances, family, coaches, professors, etc. This situation is so repetitive it's comparable to some universal script that almost everyone seems to have: I mention my studies, someone makes a comment. It's ridiculous, as well as juvenile.

Unfortunately today we live in a world where money talks and happiness is overrated. According to a study mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, 12% of students that were informed of their true post-college estimated earnings switched to higher earning areas of study. As well as this, an article published by the Washington Post discussed the parental pressure that students have to face when deciding majors- and the college of liberal arts tends to be a rare choice.

With each new generation, the concept of money > happiness seems to grow larger and larger. The sad thing about it is that kids, as well as today's college students, are growing up or have grown up with the idea that the benefits of happiness are not as fruitful if it means that one day they can buy expensive things their potential salary. No matter how many students may hate their major, no matter how much stress they may put themselves through, no matter how unhappy or unpassionate they may be, money is the deciding factor in all of it- and unfortunately students will remain in such a situation due to the external factors that they may face.

People need to understand that when they die, they are going to be leaving behind a life rather than the body of a consumer of goods. Life is something precious, and it is something that is meant to be enjoyed, to be spent doing things that one loves, to be full of happiness and extraordinary experience. To get a job that is boring, irritating, stressful, etc. just for the sake of money, something that has value because humans gave it value, is incomprehensible. Yes, with money one can afford luxury, trips, distinctive and unique experiences...but those luxuries are not usually everyday life- so why not make your everyday life a luxury by doing what you love?

With that being said, yes, I am majoring in so-called "cake", or "easy", or "worthless" majors; but instead of seeing myself unhappy in 30 years, with every object I could ever want, due to my job- i'm going to be happy with everything I have, and everything I am.

So stop belittling my majors, and start focusing on your own pathway to happiness.