Sunsets bleed back into the sky, and frost sinks its teeth in the undergrowth of dead flowers as the world slowly starts to lose its color. Yet, there is no one who can paint this picture. In today’s world, it seems as if there is no one with enough passion to turn a stray eye to the current state of affairs and feel compelled to turn it into an artistic masterpiece. Any extra paint is dried up and left behind as people trade ceramics for calculus, drawings for derivatives, and sculpture for science.
Passion exists in many forms. For some, science, law, business, music, humanities, or art fills their hearts with pure contentment. Nevertheless, the commonly accepted stigma that people who major in the arts will receive low job prospects and an unsteady income has led many students to pursue a degree in the STEM field instead, if not for passion, then for the sake of landing a six-figure job. While socially accepted stigmas usually tend to be stereotypical, this one is backed up by data.
A study conducted by the National Science Board found that in 2021, those pursuing a degree in the STEM field had an 86% employment rate compared to the 79% employment rate associated with pursuing a degree in a non-STEM field. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the median annual wage in 2024 for STEM occupations was $103,580, while non-STEM occupations had a median annual wage of $48,000. Someone could look at the outlines of these cold, hard numbers and easily come to the conclusion that pursuing STEM and suppressing an inkling of even the tiniest passion that resides elsewhere is the best option. However, without context, those numbers are devoid of any meaning. The data only gives a generalization of the situation, not the decision for someone’s future. Otherwise, the doctor without a drop of passion will have poured endless amounts of time and money into years of schooling, only to be burnt out and unfulfilled. It’s no secret that we need as many doctors, scientists, and engineers as possible to advance our society. However, if people in the STEM field lack the passion for it, then they will not be able to effectively contribute to the community. Pure, unfiltered passion can turn desire into a deep determination to achieve one’s ambitions. Nevertheless, being continuously told to “follow your passion” can send students into a mind-numbing spiral.
In high school, when a student’s entire life stretches ahead of them into an obscure horizon, it’s common for students to realize their passion later in life. However, some students have found their passion at a young age, specifically in regard to arts. There are a multitude of talented students who can create captivating paintings and the most realistic drawings. There are those who can sing with voices as sweet as a crystal bell, put on captivating performances through theatrics, and coax an angelic tune from their instruments as simply as breathing. Yet, many of these students will leave their talent behind in the shadows as society pressures them to choose a certain path to be successful.
If every rule is said to have exceptions, then an overly generalized stigma is filled with loopholes. There have been numerous people who have become successful in pursuing the arts. For instance, the brand name and timeless designer Giorgio Amani might ring a bell. When he was young, Armani was enrolled at the University of Milan’s Department of Medicine before he joined the army and worked at a military hospital. His lack of fulfillment left him looking for a different path. After becoming a window dresser and seller for the menswear department, he started his company, Armani, which has earned billions.
Not everyone who pursues the arts will end up becoming a world-renowned artist or a billionaire, but they will still end up following their passion and finding personal fulfillment in their work. Choosing a career isn’t so black or white. It’s not passion versus pay. Many people find a mix of their skills and passions and create a suitable lifestyle. Others may use their passions as a side-hustle to earn extra money; for example, an engineer who enjoys painting might sell their artwork on the side to get an extra source of income.
While it’s true that society needs people in STEM, the opposite is also true. We also need people in the arts and humanities. We need people who can create masterpieces and understand our history and complex works of English literature. Historians use art to analyze cultures and societies. Without Paul Revere, the Boston Massacre wouldn’t have made such an impact. That engraving holds true to the common cliche of “being worth a thousand words.” If Leonardo da Vinci hadn’t poured his soul into the Mona Lisa, art history, popular culture, and the surging crowd at the Louvre would’ve taken a dramatic turn. Without artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Michelango, our beloved museums would hang empty.
While STEM preserves our society, art is what enriches our quality of life. When a doctor comes home, exhausted from surgery, or a computer technician comes home with tired eyes and decides to play their favorite song or watch their favorite show, they whisper a quiet “thank you” to the artist who created the very thing to enrich their soul.
