“How do you teach somebody to be creative? You can’t.”
– Aaron Clarey, Worthless
Until this spring I never thought that my major was useless. No one ever mentioned it. If anything people congratulated me on my decision. “Good job Robert, the world needs more essays on Iambic pentameter.” Most people, myself included, simply never think about the value of certain skill sets. Providing the definition of situational irony isn’t critical for anyone’s survival.
Despite their futility almost all my peers are going into some kind of Liberal Arts major. I know one Computer Scientist, two Electrical Engineers, an Actuary, and a Civil Engineer. Everyone else is going into Psychology, Communications, Marketing, Music, or English. A conservative estimate would indicate that, outside of class, roughly half of them take no interest in their major.
Assuming that you’re interested pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts, I suggest two inexpensive alternatives:
1. Buy some books and start a blog.
The vast majority of Liberal Arts majors boil down to nothing more than reading and writing. Buy $100 worth books on a subject that you’re interested in. As you read through the material, write about it online. Join a forum that’s centered on your studies. If your intended major was more dynamic, like music or theater, spend at least an hour a day honing your skill. At the end of the week go out and perform whatever it was you were practicing. There are plenty of open mic nights to attend and community plays to audition for. If you can’t find either, start producing podcasts and Youtube videos that showcase your talents.
2. Have fun.
You’ll be a pretty lousy artist if you spend all day in your comfort zone. Screw around, use the money you saved by not attending class to go an adventure. See a concert, go to a rave, do something you’ll regret. While you shouldn’t murder your wife and get addicted to heroin like William S. Burroughs, I would suggest doing an activity that’s at least mildly edgy. Enter a martial arts tournament or something.
You won’t make any money from following my advice, but you won’t lose any either. Plus, you’ll have plenty of free time to engage in classic student activities like sleeping all day and marathon viewing television shows. However, if you’re really interested in getting straight to the big bucks, might I suggest becoming a plumber?