Recently, Wells Fargo released ads supporting careers in the STEM field, which is great. However, they approached it the complete wrong way. They created slogans that include "ballerina today, engineer tomorrow" and "actor today, botanist tomorrow."
By today's standards, if you're not majoring in some form of science or engineering, you are somehow considered less intelligent. This is a completely incorrect standard that is not only pushed on artists, but also other majors, such as education. Somewhere along the road, it became more important to major in something based on job security and money rather than majoring in something that will make you happy, even if it may be tough on the way.
Now, don't get me wrong... As a science major myself, I'm all for STEM initiatives. But, I am also a person who is involved in the arts, so I don't think it is okay to encourage someone who wants to pursue a career in the arts (or even in one of the other fields constantly being undermined) to not pursue the arts. Honestly, why can't we have both?
The arts are so incredibly important, so it really is upsetting to see how much careers in these fields are seen as "unimportant" or "easy." Could you perform a Broadway show every day, sometimes twice, as flawlessly as the actors and actresses do? Probably not. They have to work on their skills, just like anyone else. This includes numerous rehearsals, vocal and dance training, and so much else. This same logic could be applied to nearly every career in an artistic field.
Think about a world without artists. There would be no music, no artwork, and no television, since there wouldn't be actors to fill the roles. A world without the arts would suck. So, stop shaming those who want to keep art alive. It is just as important to support the arts as it is to support STEM programs.
Instead of discouraging someone who considers themselves an artist, try encouraging someone who has never touched an instrument, written for fun, or picked up a paintbrush to give it a try. We should not be discouraging one field over another. Why can't I be a ballerina AND an engineer?
