In lieu of the Fall semester commencing this week, I feel it is most apropos to address a topic that directly affects collegiate students. Instead of addressing this issue head on I want to begin with an anecdote. For the past year, I have been entertaining myself in my spare time with a part-time retail job that has now become a full-time retail job.

I work in a relatively small boutique for young women at my local mall, and at this job I have the pleasure of conversing with a vast range of people. Around the end of summer when school is beginning I encounter many college students, especially freshmen. If I notice and any APSU gear, I feel more encouraged to engage in conversation because I find the perspectives of new and/or young college students fascinating seeing as I will be a senior this semester.

Now a veteran on the vast enchanting terrain I call my university I am always eager to ask one specific question to new students which is "What are you interested in studying?" Occasionally I encounter freshman who is very certain of the path they would like to follow on their exciting journey in college, but for the most part, I receive answers along the lines of "I don't know what I want to be, I think I am going to be undeclared."

I level with these students because once upon a time I was a freshman who remained undeclared for my first year in college. However, on one specific occasion, I encountered an incoming freshman who gave me a quite disturbing answer. After I politely inquired what she was interested in studying while checking her out at the register, she promptly responded, "I'm going into the medical field because there is a lot of money there."

I could tell she was excited that someone had asked here this question, and she could respond with such a seemingly self-assured response. I was not angry with her because I figured her answer was some vague regurgitation of a notion her parents had said to her while discussing picking her career path; however, I was saddened because I was afraid she had not understood my inquiry correctly. I was not concerned with what she, or her parents or maybe her grandparents or friends, assumed would be a good field to study because of how much money she would make.

I wanted to know what she was interested in. This incident has since persistently surfaced in my thoughts because I am deeply concerned with how many other students carry this perspective. I believe college is an opportunity to discover how to turn what you are passionate about into a career. But I find it extremely difficult for an incoming student to capitalize on all of the opportunities university has to offer when these students are so concerned with how much money they will be making.

And while I do think it is important to consider money while choosing a career path, I do not agree with it being the deciding factor in choosing a specialization. I guess for me I always knew that I was going to let what I was good at and what I was passionate about dictate my studies because I was fortunate enough to have positive mentors in my life who encouraged me to pursue my passion. But for those who are not as lucky, I beg you to consider what you are actually interested in before pursuing a field solely for the cash.