Letters from the dorm: We should pursue our passion
As my second-to-last year at university draws to an end, I can't help thinking about the future.
Do I want to do a master's degree or do I want to start working? Perhaps I want to go to law school, but how do I figure out if law is something I am truly passionate about?
I am on track to complete a degree in philosophy, politics and economics. It seems like a decent qualification. After all, many politicians, news commentators and journalists have that degree under their belts.
But should I make a career out of my academic interests? Many people assume that what you study at university will immediately determine your career.
I disagree with this viewpoint, as it is also common for graduates to end up with careers that are totally unrelated to their degrees.
In fact, how we view universities needs to change. A university education should not be thought of as a means of getting a high-paying job. The process of studying should be rewarding in itself.
Education gives us the skills to get a job. However, when we choose our degrees, we shouldn't just go for subjects that can lead to good jobs. If everyone decided to study finance, who would do scientific research?
The truth is we all have different interests. The challenge, for me at least, is working out how to apply our interests in the real world.