Lucia Thomas | Contributing Illustrator

I want to major in something nontraditional, but so many people tell me I’m setting myself up for limited success in my future. Isn’t life about following your passions?

— Bashful B.A.

Dear Bashful, 

For those with an academic itch to scratch, college presents an uncomfortable crossroad — safety or passion. College is supposed to be a time of self-discovery and intellectual exploration, but the pressure of choosing a career path is ever-present. The definition of an acceptable major is set by parents, peers, movies, and even memes. If a student isn’t blessed with a propensity for STEM or stocks, they are met with concern and urged to reconsider their choices. Fret not, dear Bashful, you are not alone in your journey. 

You might be aware of the precarious and nerve-racking nature of professional development and feel tempted to chase the dough (cash, kesef, mula, etc.). Well, a single, magic word might be the difference between success and failure: drive, naught but the motivation to push yourself toward a goal. Mechanical engineering might have an appealing starting income, but trudging through the degree complicates things. Without drive, you may not gain the competitive edge required to succeed. 

Although a few careers have been proclaimed as the only reasonable option (doctor, lawyer, engineer), nothing is ever so simple. What may be a safe bet today could become a highly competitive endeavor tomorrow. Despite the illusion the WashU student body may present, we can’t all be doctors or investment bankers. Uneasiness over technological developments and their ability to replace human labor has been a source of apprehension toward almost every job. There are no safe bets; every career has competition and potential for failure. Success after graduation comes from effort and luck, not the major on your degree. 

The truth is, it does not matter what degree you get if you don’t put in the effort to succeed. It takes skill, passion, and a lot of networking to get what you want. There is no recipe for professional satisfaction, except maybe following your dreams, and to quote a comforting idiom, YOLO (you only live once). Pursuing a degree for four years while yearning for something else will only make you miserable. Also, you can always change your mind. What you study in college doesn’t define what you will do for the rest of your life. Test the waters, talk to people in your desired major, and reach out to professors and other professionals in your industry. It might not feel like it right now, but the world needs people in diverse fields, and you could be one of them. 

Your nontraditional advisers,

Scene