Why Study What You Love?

On my first day at TWU, a pre-engineering student asked me what I was studying. I said English, and he said, “Oh,” as if disappointed with my response. However, when I added that I would like to become a lawyer, he said, “Wow, that’s so impressive,” and proceeded to ask follow-up questions. I think it is fair to assume a few things from this interaction. First, that students often compare sciences and humanities instead of regarding both faculties with respect. Second, that most students in the humanities have had similar conversations where they feel judged or interrogated by others. Third, that several students experience a crisis where they wonder if they made a mistake by choosing to study the humanities. 

My goal is to reassure these students that they did not.

A few weeks into my first year, I listened to Fareed Zakaria’s commencement speech, “The Importance of the Liberal Arts.” In it he states that this education is at the centre of what it means to be human because it teaches students how to develop arguments, express their ideas and write well. Zakaria demonstrates that a liberal arts education provides students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and develop skills that are necessary for any profession.

I understand that students are concerned with job opportunities; however, employers do not simply determine an applicant’s employability by their degree. They also consider their skills and professional experiences, both of which students can develop throughout university. The job market is competitive, and even for those who opted to work in technology or other in-demand industries, job security is not guaranteed. Therefore, if “you can fail at what you don’t like, you might as well take a chance on doing what you love” (Jim Carrey). For one, I loved studying the humanities, and I hope that this article reassures other students that they made the right choice.