Last week I had the chance to catch up with an old friend. We chatted about balancing school, work and a social life, and the fact that we are college seniors. Both of us were completely honored and excited about making it this far in our college careers but absolutely terrified about the next phase of our lives — adulthood.
My mom reminds me every chance she gets that six months after I graduate I will be required to start paying back student loans. Family friends feign excitement when I tell them my major or plans for life after undergrad. I do not come from an affluent, or even remotely financially stable, family. So going to college, getting a degree in a consistent and steady field, seemed like something crucial for someone in my position.
This was constantly on my mind when I made the decision to change my major my sophomore year of college. At this point in my life, I was completely panicking about finding a job once I graduated. I hastily decided that I’d go to law school, a decision that seemed to make everyone around me breathe a sigh of relief.
I changed my major to philosophy of law as a sort of cop-out. My roommate had told me that philosophy majors scored very well on their LSATs. However, I never dreamed that I’d fall in love with my major. Being a philosophy major has helped me in more than one way, but perhaps my favorite is the overall growth in my writing skills.
Being a humanities major at a school known for its STEM programs can be terrifying — especially after I decided to ditch the seemingly more stable career option of law. I have had people tell me that I have basically thrown away a good four years of college when I could have been studying engineering.
It’s true, humanities majors do tend to earn less than students who received degrees in other areas, such as engineering, business or health and medical sciences, as an article published in InsideHigherEd.com points out. However, the article also points out that these students are not “starving artists or underemployed baristas.”
A very close loved one of mine did everything “the right way.” She went to college, majored in business and did well in her time there. Now, six years later, she is underemployed when and if she is employed at all.
Not everyone will be a rocket scientist or doctor. Some of us will be social workers, writers, artists or small business owners chasing our dreams. I have no idea if I’ll pursue law school, but if I do, I want it to be because that’s what I truly desire, not because I’m afraid of being a failure.
The truth is that our economy has made it harder for college graduates to get decent jobs in an array of fields. I don’t mean to be grim or to rain on anyone’s parade. Many of us are caught in between this constant tug-of-war of paying our bills or living our dreams — few get to do both. It helps to think about the kind of life you want to live once you graduate. Are you content with driving a 2003 Honda, or do you want a Ferrari and vacation rental in St. Barts for the holidays? Be honest with yourself.
I ran across an article on Adweek.com about a couple who quit their jobs in advertising to travel the world and ended up scrubbing toilets. Be wise, and at least a little bit rational when planning your future. Money isn’t everything, but it counts for something.