Let us address the elephant in the room...
"I got my Bachelor of Science in Psychology."
And this was right where I was told employers would stop reading my job application.
Who told me this? Nobody specifically nor was it ever explicitly stated. No one liked to talk about it in fear of stomping on my dreams post-graduation.
Over time, I slowly came to the realization society put me into a category. The Philosophy, Music, Fine Arts, Anthropology (to name a few) major category. For sake of simplicity, we will call these "nomad" subjects. These subjects are consistently ranked as "Worst College Majors" and "Least Profitable." By no means am I insulting these areas of study or any others, for the matter. Whichever subject you chose, there is a reason ranging from future job prospects to financial reasons to the love of the subject.
"Nomad" studies differ from the others, I have found, for one consistent reason: because society groups them into the "what will you do with this major" category, these students 100 percent truly LOVE their subject. Because they found passion, they have formulated many plans post-graduation in order to continue doing what they love, with the odds against them. Why else would they be doing it?
As any interest in any subject does, I bet the progression went something like this:
Class number one: checked off one of my required classes.
Class number two: class number one was intriguing. I am a freshman. Sure why not.
Class number three: why do babies develop the way they did? How did how my parents raised me influence my decision making patterns today? How do high level athletes use sport psychology? What part of my brain is working when I recall short term memories?
Class number four: I am obsessed.
Am I right? I know I could not deny it. I adored psychology because while completing my major, I was also learning about myself. Everyday, class became a time to self-reflect. I learned more about the reasons why I acted the way I did in three hours a week than in years of reflection. Classes lead me in thought directions that I wrote down and explored later. Lastly, contrary to other subjects, this one was the only topic that I did not only want to know more, I HAD to know more.
Moral of the story: I found psychology to be the only subject that consistently helped me with every other subjects and helped me define, me.
What subject does that for you? Did you major in it? If not, how did it help you in other areas?
I took my Bachelor of Science in Psychology along with my two minors, applied to graduate school and am currently getting my Master's. No matter what subject you choose for your degree, it is important to have a plan after graduation, and important to have an answer to the, "Why did you major in INSERT SUBJECT HERE?" question. It is with this answer to this question you have the opportunity to set yourself apart in a job interview in a positive way.
Moral of the article: do what you love, despite what society dictates, but have a plan while doing it. Find a subject you love, and find a way to make that money. Have back-up plans AND think outside the box.
Open that door for the elephant in the room. Everyone loves elephants.
