And the list doesn’t stop there. But with a world exploding into a highly technological age, and with majors such as Computer Science and Engineering practically promising steady work and hefty paychecks, the value of a Liberal Arts education can sometimes be overlooked. This is not to say that steady work and good pay is anything to sniff at (“Oh, darn it, I can pay my rent again this month! And I have a bunch of money left over! Shoot…”) It’s also not to say that all Liberal Arts majors skulk around tortured and penniless—as romantic as that sounds, most of us get up early for the slightly less romantic 8-to-5.

 

Are you struggling to chose a major, perhaps weighing a major you’re less passionate about (which will lead to certain employment) against a major that you love (but which leaves your professional future uncertain?) You’re not alone. Consider speaking with a career counselor, or attending a “Roadmap to Choosing Your Major” workshop, offered several times each quarter. Check out our online calendar for dates and times.

 

Are you struggling to explain to your well-meaning family that yes, actually, majoring in English with a concentration in Poetry does count as “real” education, and you will indeed be able to get a job after graduation? Been there, my friend. Even the most supportive family members can balk at a student’s choice to major in the Liberal Arts, especially when they think you’ve always had such a good head for science, and you did so well in that high school Sports Medicine class and wouldn’t you rather be a doctor? But trust me, we all face this: even Golden Globe-winning actress Angela Basset was begged by her aunt, “please don’t waste your Yale education on theater." She did, though, “waste” it on theater, and it seems to have worked out. If you’re really having trouble with the fam, consider talking with a career counselor about how to best handle that conversation (or maybe forward the offending party the link to this blog…?)

 

When in doubt, think about those famous figures of the past who have enriched the world we live in with their talent and brilliance. Where would we be today if they hadn’t had the courage to follow their passions? There is untold value in a Liberal Arts education, not the least of which is the ability to express yourself through your work—down to your very core. At the risk of exposing myself as a total cornball, allow me to encourage you to follow your heart and allow your future to be “conceived and thought about” as you “awaken to self-consciousness.”

 

And if it helps, try to picture Socrates trying to explain to his mom that no, he wasn’t planning on taking up the family business—he was going to sit around and think about stuff instead.