COLUMN: Art majors matter, too
If someone says they are a neuroscience, biomedical engineering or computer sciences major, your first instinct is to probably say, “Wow! Great for them!” or, “They’re going to go far in life.”
However, when someone says they’re studying visual arts, creative writing, theater, dance or anything like that, most people’s first reaction is to say, “Oh, so you’re going to be a teacher?”
Newsflash, world: There are more things to do with an “artsy” degree than teach others.
I think it’s great when someone's passions line up with something that is guaranteed to make them a lot of money and give them a boost to achieve amazing things in the future. But some people’s passions lay outside the socially acceptable realm of “successful” occupations and endeavors.
I’m a theater major. I’m probably never going to save someone’s life, find a cure for a life threatening disease or win a Nobel Peace Prize unless I do these things on a stage. But that shouldn’t negate my passions, goals or life choices.
Because, guess what? Success doesn’t have a universal definition. We each have to decide what our version of success is.
For me, it’s happiness. I just want to be happy with my life at the end of the day. I don’t care if I’m sitting in a tiny apartment with no heat eating spaghetti out of a can. If I’m happy with my choices when all is said and done, then I’ll be the most successful girl on the planet.
For others, maybe they want to be rich, famous, a world-renowned surgeon by 30 years old or the voice of their generation. Who am I to say who is right, or what is practical?
Sometimes, we need to remember when to bite our tongue and keep our opinions to ourselves. So what if you think someone needs a reality check? It’s not your job to give it to them. When they tell you what their plans are, they aren’t looking for you approval or opinion. They’ve already made up their mind, regardless of your two cents.
Next time you get the urge to ask an art or writing or performance major what they’re planning on doing with themselves, or sarcastically wishing them luck, just don’t.
Remember that they’ve already thought all of this through, and that they’re nervous about the future, too. But this is their passion and their dream, and just because they aren’t pre-med or poli-sci doesn't mean they should be treated any differently.
