I have always been privileged enough to have a family that supports me in everything I do. From ever since I could remember, my parents would always tell me to make sure that I love whatever I’m doing and if I don’t love it, it won’t be worth it. They never wanted me to become a doctor or nurse or scientist, they just wanted me to be happy in whatever job I have. I’m so lucky and grateful for that. But even though I have the free will to do whatever I please in regards to my occupation, I still care about what my family will think of my occupation. At times, I question whether or not being a humanities major is worth it.

There is this split second of doubt saying “Is this a good idea?” or “Are you going to be letting your family down if you do this?” This split second of doubt only comes up once in a while and I can push it out of my mind, but it always comes back.

I start to question if the lack of money I’ll make in the future will come back to bite me someday. But I just have to take a step back and remind myself of why I’m pursuing a humanities degree. Because I love it. I love the complexity of language and how it can compare to others. I want to help others see and learn that. 

I came into college not knowing what I wanted to do. I thought about Psychology and English and then I thought I wanted to be a music therapy major. This got very jumbled and was very overwhelming. I also loved French and knew I wanted to keep speaking it throughout my life. I had everything finally planned by the end of my Freshman year. I wanted to be an English and Education double major with a minor in French and Francophone Studies. Then just when I thought I had it all figured out, I realized that as much as I love English, French was just something I couldn’t pass up either. So now, I am a French and Education double major and an English minor. It’s the best of both worlds. While teaching French, I can compare it to the English language and find the similarities and differences in it. Both are complex languages, but are also similar.

If I wasn’t a humanities major, I don’t think I’d enjoy my career. STEM is just not my thing and I don’t fully enjoy those classes I have. Even if I made more money as an engineer or a doctor, I wouldn’t love it. I wouldn’t find joy in my career and it wouldn’t be worth it to me. I’m lucky that no one in my family pushed me to become a doctor, they are letting me figure out what I want to do and how to go about it. They’ve always wanted the best for me and the best for me is letting me do what I love.

I hope everyone can get the chance to figure out what they love, even if it isn’t their career.

It’s Thanksgiving day, one of my favorite holidays. I love the food, family time, the weather, but one thing that can always annoy me is the dinner conversations. Those can always be awkward. Of course since I’m at college I get all the college questions. And the one I dreaded the most was the question…

Distant Aunt: So, what are you majoring in?

Yep, that question. I had always been going back and forth on what I wanted to do. I thought I had it all figured out and then I got to college. And then I thought I figured it out again, and now I’m on a different path. Still, the question is always annoying and anxiety provoking for me. I’d never known what I wanted to do right away, but my sister and father knew exactly what they wanted to do as soon as they could even put it into sentences that were barely comprehensible. But, despite me still not fully knowing and dreading the question, I answer anyway with fake confidence and cheerfulness in my voice. 

Me (cheerfully): Well it was English and Education, but now I’m thinking of French and Education with an English minor!

Distant Aunt:  English? French? Education? What are you going to do with that – be a librarian or be a teacher who makes absolutely nothing?

Ahh yes, of course. The constant question “what are you going to do with that degree?” It annoys me to no end. People can be successful without being a doctor, you know that?! Not every successful person in the world was into science or math, arts and humanities matter too, you know?! It’s always so frustrating because that question is always followed up with-

Distant Aunt: You do know that teachers don’t make a lot of money, don’t you? 

And there it is again ladies and gentleman! Right on time! The classic question about money. Because apparently money means everything. I guess since I’ll never make enough money, I guess I should marry a rich business man who has a trust fund that his dad set up for him way before he was born. Well guess what? That’s not what I want to do! 

You don’t go into teaching because of the money, you go into it because you love working with students and you love the content you’ll be teaching. I come from a long line of educators, teaching is practically in my blood. There is no better feeling than seeing the “lightbulb moment” when a student finally understands what you’ve been explaining or working on. That’s why you go into teaching. It’s more than just money to me, I want to be fulfilled from my job. 

Me: It isn’t about the money for me, it is and always will be about the love I have for the content I’ll teach and the students. Money doesn’t buy me happiness and I don’t think it ever will, but thanks for your input!

After I finish talking, I turn back to the Thanksgiving feast in front of me. I ignore the negativity and focus on eating as much turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing I can. Happy Thanksgiving!

A young mermaid wants to see

The ways of what’s above the sea

She begs and begs until she turns of age

That’s when she can finally gauge,

What’s up above on the shore.

She finally gets to see the lore.

A young man catches her attention

On a boat that ends up in a regression

She ends up saving him from the crash

And leaves him on the shore with a splash

And soon enough it became a bore

She saw what she needed to and not much more

But she still wished to be with the prince

And would do anything in a pinch

She sees a sea witch to help her

But before she knows it, it’s all a blur

Her tongue is cut out of her mouth

And that’s when it all went south

She only has her looks to please,

And doesn’t feel at all at ease.

When she gets the attention that she wants

She gets the man that she can flaunt

But then a princess gets in her way

And then her man falls astray,

Her time has run out and she’s out of luck

And how she has to die, that sucks!

She becomes a daughter of air,

And sees good deeds that children share

She doesn’t get her man

But she can get a new life plan.