What do you want to be?
When you are little, this question is easy to answer. You simply want to be a princess. You want to be an astronaut or a fireman or a superhero.
It does not matter how much money you will make. It does not matter how many hours you will work or what education you'll need in order to apply.
When you are little, anything is possible.
But there is a certain point in your life when this question stops being so easy to answer. More factors become involved and suddenly it is not just about what you enjoy doing anymore. You have to think about the future. You have to think about the lifestyle you will live and how you will afford it.
The question is no longer what you want to be but what you need to be. Instead of following your dream of walking on the moon or saving lives, you do what you are told will make you successful career-wise.
When I was seven, if you had asked me what I wanted to be, I wouldn't have hesitated. My answer was always an artist. Creativity in any form was the best way to entertain me. My seven year old self would tell you that she wanted to write a book. She would be so excited to the point where you wouldn't have the heart to tell her how unrealistic it was to expect to write a bestselling novel. How do you tell a seven year old that the one thing they have their heart set on most likely will not happen?
We grow out of it—the phase where we feel confident enough to do and be anything. It’s unfortunate, really. We let go of our dreams without even attempting to reach them.
I didn't grow out of my artistic phase. I did not stop creating and I did not stop trying.
As a college student, one of the most frequently asked questions I receive is what major I am studying.
I am a double major—- English and Art. This is not incredibly popular as it is not nursing or biology or any other science related subject, and it is commonly followed with a look of pity. It is as if the second people hear the word art, they assume you are a starving artist and immediately begin to judge you.
Let me tell you something—not all artists are starving artists. We do not all live in New York City trying to find our big break. We are not all begging for money. An artist doesn't necessarily mean a painter or someone who can draw something more than a stick figure. An artist is a person who creates, and practically everyone is one;they just do not realize it.
It is always assumed that if you are an artist you will have a difficult time finding a job and making money. Yet, in reality, there are actually a lot of possibilities for artistic people. Whether it be graphic design, advertising, or even publishing, there is a wide variety of options.
I’m not trying to say that every artistic person should pursue a career in art or that they will be successful. I just think that it is time for people to stop judging those who choose this path. Society has turned the art world into something undesirable and that needs to change.
I am an art major.
That is what I love to do.
I will not be ashamed of that.
