“What is your major?” “Oh, what are you going to do with that?” “What jobs can you get with that degree?” “Why are you studying that?” “What do you even learn about?”
"How will that help you make any money?"If you are like me, and have a less conventional major, you are probably asked questions like this on a day-to-day basis. People seem to automatically categorize different majors into those that are respectable, and those that are worthless. I often find that when I tell people I am studying Humanities, they either feel the need to point out why they think my major isn't useful, or laugh and say that I will probably just be a stay-at-home mom anyway, so it doesn't matter what I study (kind of infuriating). I believe that majors like English, humanities, psychology, music, art, sociology and political science are just as important and as worthy of respect as engineering or medicine, when being studied by students who are interested in and passionate about those subjects.
Passion is the force that will push you to work hard and achieve greatness within your field. The motivation of someday earning a high salary will not be enough to push you through those all-nighters of studying and last-minute essay writing—only passion can do that. Don’t listen to the people who try to talk you out of selecting a major you are interested in pursing because it “isn’t practical” or “won’t be helpful to you in the real world.” When you add your pre-existing passion and curiosity to four years of learning, the outcome will be incredible, I promise.
The value of studying something that you are passionate about is immeasurable. When you are passionate about your major, you will look forward to attending your classes (okay, maybe not the 7 a.m. ones) and you will leave the classroom at the end of the day with a head full of new information that interests and excites you. When you study things that captivate your mind, the desire to work hard will come naturally and you will be more successful. Passionate people are the movers-and-shakers in our world, the ones who change the world with their ideas. Your potential is limitless when you work hard and enjoy what you do.
Imagine if Leonardo da Vinci or Beethoven were alive today, going through the college system, only to be told that studying arts or music is worthless! Our world would be worse off by missing out on the beauty and talent they have gifted humanity with. When you work hard in college, studying what you love, you could very well go on to become the next Shakespeare or Michelangelo or President of the United States of America and leave your mark on our world forever. Don’t rob the world of experiencing the greatness you can bring by pushing your passions aside and studying something just because it is deemed more prestigious.
Don't let anyone tell you your major is stupid or useless or a waste of time. If you are studying things that you feel passionate about, your major couldn't be any more important and valuable. Don’t keep your inner creative genius locked away, and don’t let snarky comments keep you from pursuing what you love. Don’t force yourself to survive classes you hate, only to someday get a job you will hate. There is no such thing as a useless degree if that degree is in something that you are passionate about, because that degree accompanied with your passion will take you far. Become so successful that society will feel stupid for ever disrespecting or doubting the importance of your major.
So what's the truth about useless majors? They don't exist.
