Prepping for college can be a scary process: filling out applications, anxiety of waiting for acceptance letters and finding the perfect roommate. However, deciding on what you want to do when you get to college is a completely different story. Going to college is a different experience for everyone. It can also be scary because you are going to end up with a degree that you will be doing for the rest of your life. While meeting new people or organizations, the one thing we all have in common is the question: “What’s your major?” And if you are a math major like me, you always get the same reactions.

1. “So you’ll do my math homework for me, right?”

I can HELP you with it, but I will not DO it for you. You will not get any better by having someone else do your work for you. I understand, math can be confusing sometimes. However, just like I learned how to do it, so can you and you will.

2. “Wow! You must REALLY be smart!”

Aw, thank you! Being a math major does not just make me really smart, it just happens to be my strongest subject in school. However, I’ll take your compliment! It means a lot!

3. “Why did you pick math?”

Honestly, I just really like math (primarily, the quadratic formula). Plus, I’m just good at it. You want to be able to be good at what you do because you’re going to be doing it for the rest of your life. You also want to really like what you do, so math was the perfect choice for me.

4. “I hate math! How could anyone like math?!”

I think this is very ignorant. I enjoy being a math major; it’s something I am happy doing now and will be for the rest of my life. However, if you do not like this particular subject, please do not try and justify why you think this is the worst subject ever. Respect other’s interest please.

5. “What do you do with a math degree?”

There’s a lot you are able to do with a math degree. There are endless amounts of possibilities. Use your imagination because there are so many jobs out there that you may not even know of yet! Math can be used for a lot of occupations whether people know they may be doing math or not.

Everyone has their own opinions on math, but do not criticize someone’s decision to be a math major or not. Math is different for everyone. Everyone has something they like and are good at. I fell in love with math in high school and am so happy to be pursuing my degree in it. When you have something you like and are good at, pursue that career. Never let someone criticize your major. If you are passionate about it, just do it. Don’t let others take that passion away!