If you are anything like me, you have some thinking to do about your future. As my senior year is coming to a close, I am overwhelmed by thoughts of the future. Will I be successful? Will I have one of my dream jobs? Who knows?
The future, for most of us, is inventible but scary, and that is okay. The beautiful thing about attending a liberal arts college is that there are endless opportunities at the end of the graduation rainbow for you. A degree from a liberal arts school prepares students for not only making a living, but also for life itself. It prepares us for learning and listening, and helps us properly understand our own and other’s humanity.
Supplement a Liberal Arts education with a minor or a cluster of courses
If you enjoy writing, but don’t plan to go into that career, you still might want to think about adding a Creative Writing minor to develop that skill set. A Psychology major with interests in different forms of psychology could take courses in Human Resource Management or Communication Studies to add an edge to their qualifications. A Mathematics major might have interest in the stock market and could consider taking courses in finance and economics.
Taking on academic challenges proves that you are a hard worker, and will possibly give you some clarity on what you want to do with your degree.
Make connections while you are still at school
Connections are everything, and they might help you as much as your degree will. If you are thinking of applying to a large company and you don’t know anyone, you don’t really have the upper hand. If you have connections, you might have a better chance of scoring an interview. Reach out to the Career and Life Planning office (CLP) at NEC for help.
You will have a strong sense of social responsibility and practical skills
Many people in your life will think you are stupid for wasting so much time and money on an education they think you might not use, but a Liberal Arts degree prepares you for many aspects of life: the bad, the ugly, and also the good. When you are finished with your degree, you will have a better understanding of the world around you and the people that inhabit it. You should also have strong communication skills, and analytical and problem-solving abilities. These will help you apply knowledge in real-world situations.
Liberal Arts education benefits
Students who study the liberal arts go on to become business leaders, teachers, artists, politicians, and so much more. The biggest benefit of a liberal arts education is versatility. This education creates a strong foundation for you in the real world, and for your future. In my experience, I have picked up skills that I didn’t even know I needed, and now I can’t imagine life without them. I have been taught a wide variety of adaptable skills that will help me to appeal to many types of employers.
You can do almost anything with a Liberal Arts degree. Jobs for liberal arts majors might include becoming a journalist, curating a museum, marketing products, and becoming a professor. The opportunities are endless, you just have to have an open mind and strong sense of hope and confidence in yourself.
