If I had a quarter for every time someone gave me pity eyes when I told them about my major, I’d have enough money to stop people from asking me how I’m going to make a living.
This election cycle has continuously brought up the cost of college, now with the idea of “Know Before You Go” legislation -- essentially, that a university should tell students how much they can expect to earn financially with their specific degrees at their specific universities. This was created with the intention of discouraging students from “unprofitable” fields. While I do believe universities should be more transparent with their finances, I do not believe that any degree is irrelevant.
I am an English major. This means I am pursuing a degree in English. It does not mean I have to be a teacher, or that I’m here for my “MRS” degree, or that I am too stupid to major in business. Now that I’ve reached my senior year and seen my friends and myself grow through our majors, I have come to one conclusion: you are defined by you, not your degree.
Finance, computer science, philosophy and religion, psychology, nursing, political science, education -- my friends and I could destroy a game of college catalogue Bingo. Now as we head toward graduation, those of us lining up post-graduate jobs aren’t necessarily those who picked “profitable” fields. It’s the ones who loved what they studied.
The concept of “C’s get degrees” is one of the most detrimental things to ever be absorbed into college culture. With skyrocketing student loan debt and the fear of unemployment plaguing most students, the problem isn’t our fields of study. It’s our apathy. Simply put, college is too expensive to not give a crap, which is why you should major in something you give a crap about. If you love your field of study, you’ll do well in it, and you’ll get more out of your degree. Imagine a world where you never want to skip class because you legitimately enjoy going. Your GPA would astound you!
Don't get me wrong, I do think in this time of crippling student debt that we need to be realistic. I chose an in-state public university because I couldn't justify $25,000 a year of loans. I got involved within my department and on campus, filled my resume, and enjoyed my time. Getting involved makes it easier to find post-graduate work, and it's easier to get involved when you love what you're studying.
English majors often end up as lawyers, doctors, politicians, and yes, teachers. All degrees contain valuable life and marketable skills, that is if you’re willing to put in the time and learn them. Those skills are what shape you, not your degree.
When you pick a degree you aren’t picking a price tag; you are picking your future. If you major in accounting because people tell you it’s profitable, what’s your best case scenario if you hate it? Being an accountant?
At the end of the day, a degree is a piece of paper, and what you actually gained was knowledge. So please, don’t waste your time and pick knowledge you love.
