As midterm week winds down, there is one phrase that I've heard many students utter when describing their bad grade on a test: "This isn't even a class that is related to my major!"

My response? OK, it isn't in your major, so what?

Taking a class that is outside of your major may be challenging, but often is rewarding in unexpected ways. As a liberal arts student, I've been required to take multiple classes outside my safe bubble of the English Department and each one has challenged me.

I realize that it's frustrating to feel as though time is being wasted on a subject that may not be helpful in furthering a student's career goals, but who says that if given a chance the course wouldn't? At this moment, I am enrolled in a Visual Communications class where I am learning to use the program Adobe InDesign. Many people may think that this is not useful at all for an English Major, lover of the good concrete book, but InDesign may be useful for a hopeful career in publishing.

I could describe countless other anecdotes where I find that a class I wasn't very interested in taking, but had to for my degree, actually turned out to be applicable to an intended career goal. Ask around and I'm positive that many other students could tell you the same thing.

For all the students out there struggling in a class outside of your major and shaking your head as I try to persuade you to believe that you're actually learning useful and helpful information, open your mind and give your class (and its professor) a chance.

Artsy? Take on a business class. Always speed walking to class? Search the course catalogue for yoga instruction. College is all about trying new things, and with many general education requirements, in the classroom is one way to start experiencing these new opportunities.