Being a college student, there is no doubt that there is a stigma against certain fields. English majors do not get as much credit compared to an engineer major. Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are seen as crazy smart and intelligent. And they are. I couldn't pass chemistry if my life depended on it, but how many chemistry students could pass an American Sign Language class with ease?
You see, we all have different brains with different styles of learning. While one person may be able to computer numbers in their head with ease, other students can write elegant 20 page papers, and other students can move audiences through performance. Not everyone can be good at everything, which is why we all have our own personal strengths and weaknesses. I for example am a visual learner. Math and science just don't make sense to me because there isn't much to visualize. However, I excel in subjects like American Sign Language, English and history. These subjects are just as challenging as algebra or physics, just in a different way. However, subjects that visual learners tend to incline towards are seen as the "dumber" subjects.
Take for example hairdressers. While society stereotypes hairdressers to not be book smart, they have to possess an incredible amount of skill. They have to be able to look at a picture or hear someone's description of what they want, and then have the manual skill to be able to create the desired output, all while talking to their client. Or how about carpenters, while they are mostly seen as just being good with their hands, they have to understand the logic and math behind what they are building in order to ensure a sturdy structure.
There are examples of this in every profession. Every job has a unique skill set behind it that we in everyday life do not think about. While there is no doubt that those in STEM related majors and fields are incredibly bright, so are the many people who are studying in the humanities. Just because your strength is in a field outside of the maths and sciences does not mean that you are not smart.
Albert Einstein once said, "Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid." This quote speaks worlds of truth. Do not immediately assume that someone is dumb because they cannot do math in their head or spell words without needing to look them up. Instead, take a moment to think about the difficulties that they may face in their field. Every subject becomes difficult when you start to go in depth. Don't forget, the world takes all kinds in order to survive.
