When contemplating their futures, teenagers look toward college majors that guarantee them a high paying job, fulfilling their definition of a successful life. This mindset that teens need to get a “highly valued” degree to guarantee financial security in life causes our youth to grow up without the skills and experiences that being immersed in the humanities can give, while also making them drift away from what they really love to do.

Ever since the beginning of time, humans have been using the arts as a way of self-expression unlike any other species on earth. We started out with primitive paintings on the walls inside caves, advancing to elaborate columns and buildings etched with the most precise details, later adding portraiture to our grand collection of human expression. From Greek tragedies at amphitheaters, to Hamlet at the Globe, to Shakespeare in the Park, theatre has also always been present and evolved along with humanity. The arts have always been a vital part of life, whether it be for passing on information, practicality or just for the love of it. Why is it now that something as natural and historically valued as pursuing the arts is deemed lazy and unpromising? Why are people so concerned with the financial stability of those getting a degree in liberal arts, rather than their happiness?

Going through the liberal arts path, to many people’s surprise, can actually provide many benefits and give people certain opportunities and experiences that others may not have, allowing them to develop essential skills in life. Through any performing art such as theatre or dance, a unique sense of confidence is instilled. By constantly putting themselves out in front of an audience, performers develop self-assurance great enough to keep their head up high through all the obstacles of life. Musicians learn patience and discipline through mastering their pieces of music. No one can play or sing a new song perfectly on the first try, which is why being persistent in practice is so crucial to reach the goal of uncovering the message and art behind a sheet of music. Out of the many beneficial characteristics someone can gain from the arts, such as dedication, acceptance of criticism, and collaboration, there is still one trait that really sets these individuals apart from others that seems to be absent from today’s world: passion. It is this passion that allows for them to have the courage to see past the high salaries of science fields and go after what they were meant to contribute to the world.

The culture of today’s society overlooks the humanities in a way that sees it as an unnecessary component to human life. The manner in which we place a superiority of science fields is toxic to the prosperity of humanity, as we completely ignore something so vital to the expression of what makes us unique on this planet.