Do what you love, screw everyone else
Sarah Zeeck
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Opinion
In college, many students are pressured into certain majors by parents or other influences. Psychology, philosophy, business, accounting - the list of majors first-time bachelor's degree seekers are forced into goes on even from there.
Usually, it is a parent influencing a decision for a major. However, sometimes peers, past teachers and the individual's desire for fame, fortune or both attempts to manipulate a student into following a career path, be it for the prestige or money. Rarely does this make the student being manipulated happy. Once in a while this works, but that type of occurrence is not the norm. Peer pressure is not a good thing no matter who is doing the pressuring.
If you are majoring in something solely on the grounds that you will have a six-figure income once you land a job, you might reconsider your path. Money is important - every grade-schooler can tell you money is vital for means of survival. However, there are many other things in life more important than money. If you're basing your career on the pay scale while in college, by the time you're in the work force, that will be the only important aspect of your career. Family, friends and even your own happiness could take a backseat to a world revolving around dollar signs.
In the same manner, some students choose career paths for prestige and fame. While many people would like to be the next Heath Ledger or Elvis Presley, a very small percentage going into a Hollywood-bound career will succeed. In order to prevail in a movie or rock star line of work, your heart has to truly be in the job you're doing; that's part of what makes those in that field good. They love what they are doing. If everyone picked a job based on fame and fortune, there would be too many movie stars and lawyers and too few doctors and teachers.
The most important thing to remember is that whoever's trying to control the destination of your career does not have to live your life. Your happiness has worth beyond what any other motive does. A movie that illustrates this concept well is "Little Miss Sunshine," in which every character learns the best motivation for whatever you do in life is to make yourself happy.
The Declaration of Independence even asserts the right to pursue our own happiness. You might be destined to become something that does not pay exceedingly well or doesn't garner you notoriety. Let's face it - the world needs people to fill in all occupations so it is not thrown out of balance. Do what you love because that's the only thing that will keep you sane in such a crazy world.
Usually, it is a parent influencing a decision for a major. However, sometimes peers, past teachers and the individual's desire for fame, fortune or both attempts to manipulate a student into following a career path, be it for the prestige or money. Rarely does this make the student being manipulated happy. Once in a while this works, but that type of occurrence is not the norm. Peer pressure is not a good thing no matter who is doing the pressuring.
If you are majoring in something solely on the grounds that you will have a six-figure income once you land a job, you might reconsider your path. Money is important - every grade-schooler can tell you money is vital for means of survival. However, there are many other things in life more important than money. If you're basing your career on the pay scale while in college, by the time you're in the work force, that will be the only important aspect of your career. Family, friends and even your own happiness could take a backseat to a world revolving around dollar signs.
In the same manner, some students choose career paths for prestige and fame. While many people would like to be the next Heath Ledger or Elvis Presley, a very small percentage going into a Hollywood-bound career will succeed. In order to prevail in a movie or rock star line of work, your heart has to truly be in the job you're doing; that's part of what makes those in that field good. They love what they are doing. If everyone picked a job based on fame and fortune, there would be too many movie stars and lawyers and too few doctors and teachers.
The most important thing to remember is that whoever's trying to control the destination of your career does not have to live your life. Your happiness has worth beyond what any other motive does. A movie that illustrates this concept well is "Little Miss Sunshine," in which every character learns the best motivation for whatever you do in life is to make yourself happy.
The Declaration of Independence even asserts the right to pursue our own happiness. You might be destined to become something that does not pay exceedingly well or doesn't garner you notoriety. Let's face it - the world needs people to fill in all occupations so it is not thrown out of balance. Do what you love because that's the only thing that will keep you sane in such a crazy world.
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