“Someone’s gotta answer the phones.” My math teacher boomed with laughter, satisfied with himself. A grimy smug smile danced on his thinning lips as he criticized poetry for being a “hobby” more than a career.
While science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are important to our society today, all STEM careers use the foundations of English teachings they so proudly reject. For example, doctors have to use the art of communication in their everyday workplace. Doctors have to inform patients of bad news frequently by letting them down easy and having empathy. To have professionalism in any workplace, employees have to master how to twist words into an appropriate manner to come across more approachable and have basic necessities of acing the art of good communication skills.
Many STEM inclined students have a tendency, rather they realize it or not, to believe they are smarter than liberal arts students. This harbored resentment towards humanities created an extreme stigma around the value you have if you are talented in a certain manner. We are taught that writers, poets, journalists, social media marketers and more are hobbies rather than careers. However, someone actually has to answer the phones. Someone has to report the nightly news citizens watch globally. Someone has to write the script for award winning films or Pulitzer Prize winning stories. If every single person majored in engineering, there would be an extreme need for humanities. Each person has a part of play in society, so by discouraging the pursuits of liberal arts, you are discouraging the effectiveness of our democracy and world all together.
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for,” the film “Dead Poets Society” states.
Words and ideas can change the world, it doesn’t matter what any other person tells you. The powerful play of life goes on with or without a mathematically talented person trying to tell you what you love to do is worthless or unimportant. The powerful play of life continues, and you get to contribute your verse.
The rumors of humanities being unimportant stemmed from the insecurity of not being good enough. However, everything scientists read or write, ties to the foundations of our society: English. We live in a time where you feel like you have to be the best at everything and you have to do more to be brilliant. However, you don’t have to be an Oscar nominee to be considered spectacular. Every route is a route worth taking with passion and creativity in life.
Conformity is a disease in the air that drifts into young students’ minds with faithless ideas of putting money over happiness. However, pursuing your true passions doesn’t have to mean losing the ability to have financial success. Literary careers can take you to big corporations like writing for The New York Times or big news stations, which is working your way up to financial stability. People who want to pursue these literary careers can have financial stability in contrast to popular belief with an annual salary of 93k-188k for advertisers according to ZipRecruiter. Journalists don’t necessarily have doctor’s salaries, but they are just as important regardless. It can be difficult to take the leap of majoring in your genuine passion when being looked down upon by others. The need for acceptance is evident in our everyday lives, not just in choosing your career. This weight is in academic validation, looks, beauty, followers, something to showcase that you are special. However, this is just an image to portray for others, not really who you are. You must trust that your beliefs are unique even when others find them odd or unpopular. Even when the herd goes left, go right. Do whatever route is best for you, not your peers, aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents, etc.
In conclusion, while talented STEM students do add a serious and important aspect to the classroom, English, poetry, writing, these are just as important. Take off the overused rose colored glasses filled with stereotypes associated with certain people because each person has a unique and distinctive verse to contribute, you just have a different line.
