Think of the time when you tried to apply for university programs. I’m sure you continuously asked yourself: “What field should I go into? What are my interests? And what is the earning potential for the major I choose to study?”
For most of us, our interests and the potential for earning prospects clash.
This often happens for people passionate about art. If you love photography, you may spend a lot of time wandering around the city with a camera. But when it comes to an education field, will you continue to study photography despite its competitiveness and low earning potential?
This question often stumps a lot of students. And I can relate to this as well.
I have tried multiple programs, from fashion to social work to computer science. But none of these degrees have interested me, and I’ve never felt comfortable studying the material. In fact, after scoring a low grade on a computer science course, I became extremely discouraged. I continued asking myself: “Why wasn’t I good at this field?” I genuinely believed I had the skills, but the marks proved otherwise.
For over half a decade, I wandered around and explored multiple interests. But something in me felt wrong when I sat in those classes. I felt that I didn’t fit in with the fashion industry or within the social work field. To make matters worse, I constantly felt excluded and targeted.
But when I entered a business program, I realized what it’s like to study a field I enjoy.
I constantly felt the need to go to class and learn. Even on days when I feel stressed, I continue to prioritize school and class. I sit in the classroom, analyze the concepts, and continue to study them after class.
This allows me to study harder to prepare for tests. And even when I don’t obtain an ideal score, I’m not as disappointed as I used to be. In fact, I look for ways to improve and work towards my goal.
Studying something that interested me reignited my passion for goal-setting and improving myself. Now, I constantly want to develop my strengths and seek different ways to apply what I’ve learned in class to the real world.
If you previously told me that studying what you liked trumps earning potential, I wouldn’t have believed you. After all, people do attend higher education to advance their careers and find better-paying jobs.
But now, I notice that studying what you like can make a massive difference in your student experience.
Since you like the subject, you constantly explore the concepts and work to improve on your assignments. Moreover, you also feel the need to push yourself outside your comfort zone. And you try to interact with the subject as much as possible and see its potential outcome.
So, if you feel stuck in choosing a program, I’ll give you the generic advice: Always go with what your heart tells you. In that case, you can make the most of your experience and graduate without regret.
Featured image via Polina Zimmerman on Pexels
