"What do you expect to do with an Art degree?"

"How do you plan to make a living?"

"I hope you have a backup up plan."

With eye rolls and scoffs, these are just a few of the harsh, disrespectful things people have said to me after telling them that I am studying Art in school. Constant belittling and uncalled for remarks because of the path I chose. Acting superior and mighty with their "Biochemical Engineering Degree" or high paying office jobs. Always left having to explain myself, and never given positive feedback for choosing following my dreams.

It is exhausting listening to never-ending reminders that I won't make a lot of money, and that I will never be happy. This day in age, everything has become about money, success. Imagination and creativity have vanished in this ideology that success only comes from big paychecks.

That money is the only way to happiness. I find it wrong that this is the outlook people have on life.

Of course, I want to make enough to live a stable, happy life for myself or family. But for me, that isn't sitting at a desk 9 to 5 every day, repeating things over and over again. Happiness for me comes from doing what I love day in and day out, even if it means living paycheck to paycheck. People have become so wrapped up in living the perfect life, that they try to get there in ways they truly aren't happy with.

Going to work should not be a force, it should be something you want to do.

Liberal Arts majors are always given difficult times for their career choice. Unlike Engineers or Mathematicians who may already have jobs and futures set for them, liberal arts majors aren't guaranteed careers in their field right out of school. What goes unnoticed though, is that we know our futures aren't given, but we are willing to work 110% to make it. Shouldn't that passion and dedication to be able to do what you love, be recognized?