Dear STEM Majors, You Don't Get To Devalue Another Major Just Because You Think It's 'Easy'
It is way too common and normalized for STEM people to frown upon those that aren't STEM.
STEM majors are crucial to our world, especially in today's modern society characterized by the rapid growth of technological advancement. We need STEM majors. Robin Williams even said it himself in the film "Dead Poets Society":
"Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life... But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."
Not everyone is fit to be a STEM major.
Some people just don't have a natural proclivity for a STEM subject. They aren't capable of the fast pace or workload it entails. And that is OK. Nothing is wrong with that. Others, however, are capable but choose to go into a field that is not STEM because they want to study something they are passionate about. I feel as though whatever an individual's reason for not going into a field that isn't STEM may be, that individual is often shunned by so many people for dreaming "unrealistically." They are told they won't make money. They are told their ambitions are too far-fetched. They are invalidated and laughed at.
That being said, stop denigrating people who choose to major in something or enter a field they are passionate about.
I am a HUGE proponent for doing something that you actually enjoy doing. I do NOT believe you should ever enter a profession simply for the money. I would rather be making enough money that stabilizes my life and love what I do than make six figures but dread going to work every single day. I don't believe you should live life to make money.
Live life to live.
It is way too common and normalized for STEM people to frown upon those that aren't STEM. For the majority of high school, I planned on being a STEM major as well. I thought math and science were the subjects I wanted to be engaging in for the rest of my life. However, around my junior year, I realized I wasn't fervent about it at all. I found my passion for the arts. For performing, for writing, for creative work. And I realized I wanted to make a career out of what I am truly passionate about. That's what I want to be doing with my life.
I don't care about money. I want to be happy and proud of doing what I love.
Lady Gaga won her first Oscar. Lady Gaga. A woman that performs and entertains for a living (probably the farthest you can get from a STEM occupation). At the Oscar awards, she had some words to say about passion:
"If you are at home and sitting on your couch watching this right now, all I have to say is this is hard work. I have worked hard for a long time, and it is not about winning, but it's not about giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it. There's a discipline for passion, and it's not about how many times you get rejected or you fall down or beaten up, it's about how many times you stand up and are brave.
People need to understand there is hard work in practically ANY type of profession.
There are difficulties and stress that coincide with all types of work. They are just difficult in different ways. A chemist and an actor both study completely different things and undergo different types of strenuous experiences. A chemist, for instance, must intellectually and logically work through arduous research and experiments, whereas an actor must face the stress of finding and completing auditions and the constant rejection that perpetuates throughout the business.
Both lives are FILLED with tension, just in different ways.
If you have taken away nothing from this article so far, at least take something from this: if you have a dream you want to be fulfilled, then fulfill that dream. Stop letting invalidation get to your head. Whatever you decide to do with your life, do it with passion. If you want to be a doctor, make sure it's because there's passion behind it. If you want to go into the entertainment industry, be ready for the obstacles and let-downs. But also be sure your inculcated passion will pick you back up.
Passion will bring you far. Without it, we are nothing. We are boring.
Ladies, Plastic Surgery ISN'T Worth The Boost In Self-Esteem And Here's Why
Plastic surgery is just as risky as other types of surgery.
Plastic surgery has been a trend for a while now, but lately, we've been seeing a lot more celebrities come out and talk about the work they've had done. YouTuber and singer, Queen Naija, made two videos about her recent tummy tuck and Brazilian butt lift. Many fans appreciated her honesty and transparency, but others criticized her for sending a bad message to her young and impressionable fans, as well as for going under the knife too soon after giving birth (her son is only three months old).
An even bigger controversy comes from Cardi B, who had to cancel one of her shows due to complications from her recent liposuction procedure. Many of her fans are worried about her health, while others are angered and disappointed that she foolishly had a major procedure so close to one of her performance dates.
Any way you slice it — pun fullyintended — both ladies, and all who decide to have plastic surgery, are taking a major toll on their bodies and health. Celebrities get so much work done that they speak about it as if it is something as nonchalant as buying new furniture.
Cardi B Shows And Talks About Her Stomach & Breast Liposuction Postpartum | Instagram Live |YouTube
But here's the thing... it's not.
Of course, it's always better for celebrities to be transparent about their procedures. It reminds women and young girls that the "ideal body type" is usually unnatural and unattainable. However, with each celebrity that comes forward, plastic surgery is more normalized and seen as desirable, harmless, and natural, although in reality, plastic surgery carries as many risks as other forms of surgery, and requires extensive post-op care and rest and recovery time, something that many celebrities conveniently leave out of their discussions about their procedures.
R&B artist, K Michelle, removed her butt implants after experiencing major complications. In an interview with The Real, K Michelle says, "I did butt, I did hips... and now it's affecting my health... My butt is so big that my legs are not holding it. People don't talk about it. I've gone to doctors who don't want to touch it. I've found one doctor who is going to do it for me, [but] imagine if you don't have the money to get it out?"
Not only that, but a Florida woman died after experiencing a fat embolism (when fat enters the bloodstream) as a result of her Brazilian butt lift. Another Florida woman suffered permanent brain damage after experiencing a lack of oxygen while undergoing breast augmentation surgery. These may seem like outliers, but is the risk really worth it? People who have medical-related surgeries are going under the knife because they need to. They don't get to have a choice in the matter because it's necessary for their health. Women and young girls are putting their health at risk voluntarily. Is it really worth it to risk your life over appearances?
An even more significant part that celebrities omit about plastic surgery is that it isn't guaranteed to make you look better. Sometimes, you actually end up looking worse. Ayesha Curry — restaurant owner, professional chef, and pro-basketball player Steph Curry's wife — recently opened up about her "botched boob job." She states, "I came out with these bigger boobs I didn't want. I got the most botched boob job on the face of the planet. They're worse now than they were before... I would never do anything like that again."
"Botched" surgeries are more common than we tend to think — if they weren't, could there really be a whole TV show about it?
So many women and young girls tend to idealize plastic surgery. They think it will be a quick, magical "fix" to their insecurities and/or bring them more opportunities. However, dozens of women later come out to say that they regret their surgeries, either because it doesn't look good or it didn't accomplish what they wanted it to. Many women end up "botched" or dead because some plastic surgeons trick their patients into thinking they're board-certified when they're not, putting the patient's health and appearance at risk.
Top 10 Celebrities Who Regret Their Plastic SurgeryYouTube
When we spin this narrative around plastic surgery, making it out to be just like any other type of beauty enhancement — or worse, some type of "empowering" action that will fix our problems — we're neglecting to realize how major of a decision deciding to go under the knife actually is. And worse, we're sending the message that to be beautiful and desirable you have to look just one way.
Surgery is meant to correct or prevent a problem — the way you naturally look is never a problem.
Ladies, always remember this: you don't need to look like every other IG model to feel good. And you damn sure don't have to endanger your health (and burn a hole in your pocket), trying to fit into an outdated and ridiculous beauty standard.