"What Are You Gonna Do With That?"

By Meredith McDevitt on February 10, 2017

As a women’s leadership major with interests towards law and writing, I’m not the everyday pre-law, pre-med or business superstar lots of students are and strive to be. When people ask me what I want to do with a degree in women’s leadership, I simply respond with “change the world.”

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Then they look at me like I’m wasting my parent’s precious money on my education and change the subject. No really, though, changing the world is on my life bucket list. Have you ever thought about the education systems in developing countries? What about the reproductive rights of women in Sub-Saharan Africa? Did you know in America, if you’re not a white man, you’re getting paid less?

I’m sure you didn’t because you were busy studying the anatomy of the body or how to sell products to people. Not hashing out anyone’s interests or desires of these career areas — however, I am tired of people asking and judging an abnormal major or thinking lesser of people’s education when it isn’t the exact path to a safe career.

Although changing the world may be difficult as an undergraduate student right now, having a more unique major allows students to fuse other interests together. For example, having a passion for teaching can open opportunities within education classes, women’s studies classes, African-American studies, and even sociology studies, maybe even finding a passion for teaching in impoverished countries.

Although the world needs doctors and lawyers and marketing advisors, the world also needs the passionate and selfless students that want to make an impact in the world they’re living in. Sure these high-level studious students will make a fortune and a difference in the world, but are they doing it just because of the salary, are they doing it because they know they’re good at science or math, or are they really passionate about accounting? That’s where there’s a difference between passion, appreciation, and a true love for a student’s studies and major.

A tip to all my readers (if you’re out there) would be to take a dive in a random class that sparks an interest or passion of yours. Take a break from your biology and chemistry, and take a sociology course on race and ethnicity. Learn the importance of language and dialogue in society, and how gender norms shape the societal patriarchy. Although you may not be interested now, this one small random class could feed an entirely new path for you, or even help you further in your valuable studies towards being a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. You might as well start taking a new language too …

The world is full of endless opportunities to change, recreate, or discover new passions — might as well take advantage of them. Stop asking your peers or children what they want to do with their degree, and ask them about the classes they’re taking, their interests within their major, or what they’re passionate about. With only four years of undergrad, might as well make the most of it and change the world, or at least take an “outside of the box” class.

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