As a Recreation, Parks, and Tourism major, I am often asked if I strive to be like the character, Leslie Knope, from the T.V show, Parks and Rec. I am asked if I plan on making a difference like this fictional character or if I just couldn't decide what I wanted to major in, so I chose a broad one. Recently, the question "so, you chose an easy major?" was asked and although I had many other words to say, I responded with "no sir, I chose the perfect major for me."
To answer some of the common speculations about RCPT, yes, I do hope to make a difference, but not in the way Leslie Knope does. I hope to make such an impact through the use of recreational therapy. No, I didn't choose this major because of the wide variety of jobs it offers, I chose this major because it offered me the education I needed to fulfill a career in recreational therapy. No, I do not complete my studies on top of a mountain. Yes, I do take a class that is dedicated to the qualities of play and team-building. And finally, no, I do not own a pair of Chacos.
So, I may not have to take 200 credit hours of anatomy, learn how to manage a portfolio, or know how to deliver a baby to receive my degree, and that is ok. That doesn't mean my major or your major is more important than the other. It means that we have different requirements for our very different majors. Personally, I believe that with the proper amount of effort, every major is hard and every major is easy. There are classes that I have to take that are not as challenging as some of my other. However, that doesn't make them easy.
It's no secret that anyone majoring in RCPT isn't going to have it as difficult as an individual in nursing school or who is going pre-law. I'm not saying that our major is as equally as difficult as every major offered. There are some majors that are extremely selective in their students and there are some majors that only take 14 to 16 students in all. However, just because I picked a major that didn't make me apply amongst 200 plus students, or require my GPA to be above a 3.7, doesn't make my major less qualified or less dignified. It means I chose a major that I can complete well within my means.
Finally, why does it have to be a competition? Why does one major have to outshine another? The way I see it, we are all here to better ourselves. So, while I may not be interested in building houses, working with athletes, or curing sick babies, you are. That's why you chose your major. You can ask me about my major, You can ponder and question why I chose it. But, please don't degrade my major because it is not one that you chose for yourself.
