Choosing a College Major
Little tardy to the party on this September 2017 Discover Card article, but a client just emailed it to me over the weekend. Hopefully, some college students and/or their parents will find it useful. In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I am a proud history major. I distinctly remember my senior year of Wellesley College, and people saying, “Oh, history! That’s interesting. What are you going to do with it?” (Invariably, the people who asked a variant of this question were themselves not doing a damn thing with their own major.) Even at that age, I would roll my eyes, because I love history, and who says that the only value in a thing is the money it makes for us? Not to mention, yeah, who uses history, right? It’s not like our past ever impacts or influences our future…oh wait.
And, what have I done with that history major? Oh well, lived in Russia, worked in network news covering stories at the White House, Kremlin and Congress, received my law degree, started two successful small businesses, published numerous articles, coached people in the Obama White House. *shrugs modestly* You know, a little of this, a little of that.
All of which to say, young people, do what you love. Because more than likely, the people who question you, simply didn’t have the courage themselves to fight for what they love, and so you make them nervous. You remind them of the tedious excuses they tell themselves. Meanwhile, those of us who did commit, we’ll never ask you; we’re too busy doing what we love, as well.
Here’s the article: Pick a College Major
advice for college students advice for parents of college students coaches quoted college life discover card articles history majors do it better how to find the courage to live your life how to find your passion how to pick a college major you love real talk life advice small business advice useful advice for college students wellesley college alumnae wellesley college history majors why i'm glad i studied history you're not the boss of me