"Major" issues
yeah, having some "major" issues... been fighting with my mom about it... and she talked to my grandma who in turn talked to my aunt, who in turn wrote to me... so I wrote my aunt back.
heres a copy of my email (which I will preface with the fact taht I had brought up possibly getting a psych major to my mom and so my aunt's email started out with her utter disdain for that idea):
Ok, so I really actually don't want to be a psych major..I am way to paranoid to study mental illnesses as a profession because I am a huge hypochondriac and it would drive me crazy. I was not planning on going to grad school because I wasn't planning on using it in a clinical setting; it was going to be my second major that I was going to use to help further my first major, and if I failed at my first major miserably, I would be able to fall back on it by going to grad school. Honestly, what I really want to do is be a Television-Radio-Film (TRF) major; basically I want to get into the business of deciding programming, reviewing pilots, writing screenplays, etc. I know that this type of communications is considered "risky" but I think I will truly love doing it and have a passion for it. My mom considers this, i guess, a major for unmotivated/ stupid people... she likes to say "but you're so smart, you could be doing anything you want to do, you are just taking the easy way out. I know its hard to actually get into this field, but my school has such a high reputation for its communication department; its one of the top schools int he country for these majors and so many famous media people are a product of the Newhouse school of Public Communications. However, I know that dreaming isn't exactly practical, which is why currently I am pursing a BS in biology, as well as (hopefully) a BS in TRF. I think this may actually kill me though. Biology (or any science for that matter) has to follow such a rigid schedule is SO intense that I don't think its right for what I actually want to do. It looks to me that I will have to take about 20 credits per semester for the next 3.5 years to finish in time plus also taking credits in the summer and also giving up going abroad during the school year like my fellow students will be taking part in. I mean, I really love science. I am taking 3 science courses right now, including Intro to Neuroscience (which I find fascinating), yet I can't see myself doing this as a profession. I want a career that fufills me 20,30, 40 years down the line, and working in the TRF department looks to give me that future fufillment if I do succeed in it. I need a profession that involves interaction with people and though working in a lab seems fascinating, I believe that after awhile, I will get lonely. I can't be kept cooped up in a lab only to interact with others who too are locked into the lab. I need a fluid environment. My mom sees this view as immature and impractical; I see it as doing something that fufills you in ways that those who are stuck doing menial, hated jobs will never get to experience. I want to give myself the chance to atleast TRY to experience it. I know that I need to get a second major, I mean, communication jobs don't just fall out of the sky and you do need something to back it up. Currently I am still in the bio track, but I am also looking into Anthropology and other science-like majors that are both interesting yet do not have the overall looming/ rigidity of a straight forward "science" major. I mean, I could go for the BA in bio, but what would the point in that be? What can you do with a BA in bio, you can barely do something with a BS unless you get a PhD or become an MD. So, I am exploring my options. My mom doesn't seem to understand that; she sees the world in black and white while I see it in a multitude of grays. I find that no matter what I end up with, as long as I am not left with a feeling of regret, of not taking that chance, then I will be satisfied with whatever career my future holds for me.
...if you would like, feel free to relay this message to my mom, she may listen to another adult better.
Love ya,
Rebecca
heres a copy of my email (which I will preface with the fact taht I had brought up possibly getting a psych major to my mom and so my aunt's email started out with her utter disdain for that idea):
Ok, so I really actually don't want to be a psych major..I am way to paranoid to study mental illnesses as a profession because I am a huge hypochondriac and it would drive me crazy. I was not planning on going to grad school because I wasn't planning on using it in a clinical setting; it was going to be my second major that I was going to use to help further my first major, and if I failed at my first major miserably, I would be able to fall back on it by going to grad school. Honestly, what I really want to do is be a Television-Radio-Film (TRF) major; basically I want to get into the business of deciding programming, reviewing pilots, writing screenplays, etc. I know that this type of communications is considered "risky" but I think I will truly love doing it and have a passion for it. My mom considers this, i guess, a major for unmotivated/ stupid people... she likes to say "but you're so smart, you could be doing anything you want to do, you are just taking the easy way out. I know its hard to actually get into this field, but my school has such a high reputation for its communication department; its one of the top schools int he country for these majors and so many famous media people are a product of the Newhouse school of Public Communications. However, I know that dreaming isn't exactly practical, which is why currently I am pursing a BS in biology, as well as (hopefully) a BS in TRF. I think this may actually kill me though. Biology (or any science for that matter) has to follow such a rigid schedule is SO intense that I don't think its right for what I actually want to do. It looks to me that I will have to take about 20 credits per semester for the next 3.5 years to finish in time plus also taking credits in the summer and also giving up going abroad during the school year like my fellow students will be taking part in. I mean, I really love science. I am taking 3 science courses right now, including Intro to Neuroscience (which I find fascinating), yet I can't see myself doing this as a profession. I want a career that fufills me 20,30, 40 years down the line, and working in the TRF department looks to give me that future fufillment if I do succeed in it. I need a profession that involves interaction with people and though working in a lab seems fascinating, I believe that after awhile, I will get lonely. I can't be kept cooped up in a lab only to interact with others who too are locked into the lab. I need a fluid environment. My mom sees this view as immature and impractical; I see it as doing something that fufills you in ways that those who are stuck doing menial, hated jobs will never get to experience. I want to give myself the chance to atleast TRY to experience it. I know that I need to get a second major, I mean, communication jobs don't just fall out of the sky and you do need something to back it up. Currently I am still in the bio track, but I am also looking into Anthropology and other science-like majors that are both interesting yet do not have the overall looming/ rigidity of a straight forward "science" major. I mean, I could go for the BA in bio, but what would the point in that be? What can you do with a BA in bio, you can barely do something with a BS unless you get a PhD or become an MD. So, I am exploring my options. My mom doesn't seem to understand that; she sees the world in black and white while I see it in a multitude of grays. I find that no matter what I end up with, as long as I am not left with a feeling of regret, of not taking that chance, then I will be satisfied with whatever career my future holds for me.
...if you would like, feel free to relay this message to my mom, she may listen to another adult better.
Love ya,
Rebecca