Toward the end of my freshman year, I decided to switch my major to economics. I found its unique blend of social science and math fascinating, and I was excited to pursue a degree in it. When I told one of my friends in the College of Engineering about my decision, he laughed at me. "Economics?" he said. "What a joke. You should pick something that matters if you want to get a job someday." I nodded and smiled while making a mental note to demote him from "friend" to "mild acquaintance."
I knew he was just being playfully rude, but his remark troubled me. He wasn’t the only person I knew who held non-STEM subjects in low regard, and this attitude has seemed to become more prevalent in the time I’ve spent at UF.
The acronym STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. There is no doubt people who study these subjects often go on to do great things for society, from building bridges to developing new vaccines.
STEM subjects also tend to receive more funding, and STEM graduates have access to higher entry-level salaries. As a result, STEM subjects are often held in higher esteem than other degrees.
I agree that STEM subjects are incredibly important, and I have great respect for students who are truly passionate about them. However, it is incredibly misguided to think anything not encompassed within these four categories has less value.
The sheer diversity of subjects that fall outside the realm of STEM renders this argument completely false. Non-STEM subjects include everything from education to journalism.
To say teachers and reporters fill less important roles in society than doctors and scientists is simply not true. The impact of a classroom’s success is harder to quantify than that of a medical breakthrough, but that does not mean one is more significant than the other.
Another common criticism of non-STEM degrees is it is too difficult to find a job in these fields upon graduation. This notion is inherently ridiculous, as there are literally thousands of different kinds of jobs. True, certain fields have higher numbers of employment than others, but if you are truly passionate about something and willing to work hard for it, there will be opportunities.
This notion also disregards the true purpose of pursuing a degree. Learning more about something that genuinely excites you is what higher education is all about. What you make of that afterward is what finding a job is all about.
I have a friend who majored in 18th-century feminist literature and now works at a prestigious publishing house in New York City thanks to a professor’s recommendation. I also have a friend who dropped out of college altogether because his "practical" engineering major made him miserable. Of course, these are individualized examples of specific people, and not everyone will have the same experience. However, they serve to demonstrate true passion, for even the most obscure of subjects can often be more valuable than picking a major for its perceived stability.
To freshmen wrestling with which major to pursue, I have but one message: Pick something you love. If being a chemical engineer has been your dream since day one, go for it, but don’t do it just because it seems "safer" or "more legitimate" than something else. Every subject is important, from chemical engineering to Scandinavian history. Even if some fields have fewer jobs available, one thing remains true: Every field has room for passion and hard work.
Namwan Leavell is a UF economics senior. Her column appears on Fridays.
