Should you study something you love or something practical
Should you study something you love or something practical
Steve Jobs famously proclaimed at his commencement in Stanford University speech in 2005 that “Loving what you do is the only way of doing great work”. So doing what you are good at and what you love is a good option to be pursued for a better future. Let’s get straight to the point that degrees, majors, and other coveted grounds in academia naturally yield larger potential for better pay (in postgraduate employment). We all are aware of this fact. But the things like personal interest also affect job engagement, and this intrinsic motivation yields monetary success and advancement. The drive, effort, and unrelenting dedication to whatever you choose give you the best results collectively.
Engagement is important in whatever you do :
Engagement in whatever you study and do is very important. It is, at large, the by-product of one’s intrinsic motivation, which is the key to seeing anything through. If a person is committed to something he finds more meaningful, he performs the tasks more competently.
Besides, authentic research has shown us that the people who achieve minor daily goals in a direction they are interested in are more fulfilled and happier overall. Happiness affects a person’s overall health, and it is directly proportional to one’s overall commitment and satisfaction.
Love what you study:
The problem is that if you do not have any pure passion for the subjects you study, you will run out of motivation eventually. You might struggle to complete assignments and attend lectures and will generally feel miserable. Life is too short to feel down, studying something against your passion or interest. In the long run, for your sanity, it is better to choose a subject you love.
Living a life uncomfortably, doing a job you hate is not a good idea if you can choose for yourself by struggling for a future career path you love. Few things are to be considered before stepping into the major related to your passion so that you can find the right balance between fun and practicality.
Doing Investigation
What do the people with a major in photography, journalism, or literature do nowadays? The job market is persistently shifting, and it’s better to know what the major you selected will prepare you for? You might find that the path where your major can lead you is not necessarily where you want to go.
Not limiting yourself within confined career paths
Merely because a chosen major has a connection with a specified direction, it doesn’t mean that you necessarily should follow it in professional life. You can get success in other careers related to interdisciplinary fields related to your major as well.
Being practical
You will come up with various criteria to judge the courses while you are researching in this regard. Making a shortlist of top features you are interested in is a good idea. These could be research facilities, institution ranking, practical experience, student support services, cost of tuition, social life etc. Keeping a practical approach (during this process) under consideration is the main thing you can decide for your future.
Minor in one’s hobby
A good alternative is the minor you choose, studying something you love with no pressure of contemplating what to do after graduation.
Considering a double major
If you are torn between several majors, a double major can be an easy fix for you. It can also be a great way to major in the thing you love as you can combine it with something practical.
Being open to the other areas to one’s talent
Let’s take an example, if you like theatre, what exactly is that you like about it? If you are inclined to design the set, considering a career in designing is a good thought. If you have good managerial skills, you might do better in business. Do not limit yourself to one sector.
Making your plan
Do not just beat about the bush while deciding about serious matters like this; make a proper plan to ease up the things for you in the future, so you can be less worried.
Getting good scores is directly related to your interest:
Taking action, embracing uncertainty creates the future. Doing the thing you love is critical to do your best, as it raises your chance of succeeding financially and otherwise. The desire will make you more resourceful, more creative and help you get further. You get a higher GPA when you are in engagement with what you learn. A higher GPA translates to better job opportunities. There is a strong correlation between career earnings and class ranking.
Sharpening in skills other than just studying:
Regardless of academic background, the employers are also interested in certain desirable skills about which students are unaware, so the students keep themselves unconcerned about sharpening those attributes during student life, which is quite a disconnection between “what students believe employers want” and “what they seek”. So strength in skills such as critical thinking and communication gives a huge leg up in the hiring process.
Conclusion:
Throughout a student’s time in education, he receives various conflicting advice from different people in life. Well, unfortunately, there is no exact right answer to this very question. But, on the other hand, studies also show that following the path of one’s interest and liking can also lead to disastrous results, as several passions are not transferable to marketable skills. Now, clarification is that one can pursue something he loves without making it his “sole” passion. He can foster his interest and see its growth into something more, side by side, his main profession as well.
With this all said, you still need to be realistic and think sooner rather than later about the exact career you are interested in. Hone the skills in that field (as much as possible), look for the opportunities of work experience, build contacts, get involved with related societies in university and do internships to get a taste of the working world, so you can have an interesting portfolio for showcasing in front of employers after student life. Standing out of the crowd should always be the main concern for you.
