More Than Just A Degree

Today, I found out my friend pursued General Science in High School because her father asked her to.

I'm sure most of us have been pressurized into something we didn't have our hearts for by our family or people dear to us at a point in our lives.

These people do not always have ill intentions. They believe they have our best interests at heart.

So, this friend of mine mentioned this during a break in lectures today and I got shocked and well, curious. I asked her to tell me more and she told me how unhappy she was as a science student. After the first year in High School, she realised she'd made the wrong choice. She struggled a lot with the elective subjects and wished she could restart everything, but didn't want all her efforts made in the year to go in vain.

She said she struggled, but it wasn't because she wasn't a bright student. There were other courses where she could've excelled, but by the time she found out it was too late.

Having this conversation with her brought to life a memory I'd long ago repressed. I was a science student as well, and I very nearly changed my course to General Arts. Even though I've always dreamed of being a published author, I asked myself some questions. Would I survive as a writer in this country? What if I run out of shiny new ideas, and I'm unable to write anymore? What would bring me income then? That's why I went into science and then engineering, because I wanted a profession that would bring me a steady flow of income and see me through life.

But now I can't help but think of the what ifs. What if I'd dived into writing anyway?

I can't be sure of the answers, but I do know that learning wouldn't feel like such a burden since I love and deeply care about what I'm doing. The challenges would have been like some fun jigsaw puzzles since it's my passion and more than just a degree. Everything would have been easier.

So, I'm here to encourage you to follow the path you love. Choose the course that makes you happy, because in the end, loving what you do is the greatest success of all.

Thanks for reading!

Images are mine.