"So what are you going to major in?"
Every college student hears this multiple times in their lifetime. It's an innocent question that strikes fear and panic inside because in reality no one knows what they are doing. This question becomes increasingly difficult when you have chosen a more untraditional major, a double major, or are pursuing the fine arts.
I cringe every time someone asks me what I am doing with my education. The social stigma has become so overwhelmingly powerful that I try to avoid the topic all together because as soon as I mention it, people's perceptions of me change. I see the glazed look in their eyes as they assume that I am not smart enough to pursue a "normal" path. They look at me with a little bit of sadness, already certain that I will fail. They say "oh I wish my education could have been that easy", "show me something you can do right now", and "I took a dance class when I was three", so has almost every one else.
I am not the only one who experiences this. Every student who does not pursue a typical career path such as accounting, business or biology get rolled eyes and sometimes even disrespect. As a double major who is pursuing the performing arts, I have never doubted myself and have received a lot of negative feedback now that I am actively working towards my goals. It is quite unnerving listening to those who doubt you. You question your worth and your abilities, and sometimes you believe that you really are not cut out to do what you love.
I work as hard as any student, I juggle busy schedules and take on more commitments than I should. I should never have to feel ashamed for pursuing my education. I should never feel like I am not capable or will not be able to succeed. I should be able to talk about my passions as openly as any other student but I still feel the need to hide.
No one wants to be doubted. No one ever wants to hear "you are not good enough", so why do people still openly criticize one another for it? People do not realize how much work every student puts into their major. Having the ambition and drive to openly pursue what one loves should be enough for people to respect but for some reason it will never be enough for society to accept.
My message to those who are reading is to stop doubting yourself and never stop doing what you love. There are always going to be hatersbut you should not let that get in the way. This sounds cliche because it is, but the only person we ever need to make happy is ourselves. Like my mom has always told me "keep doing what you love, the rest will figure itself out as long as you work hard enough".
