Value of a liberal arts education

After a week of difficult midterms, back-to-back meetings and unpredictable weather, I was overcome with feelings of anxiety and relief for my sorority’s family weekend.

Having my parents come to town evokes mixed emotions. All week, I looked forward to reuniting with a part of home on my own turf, anticipating some parental pampering; yet the comforting conditions came with frustrations.

My parents had been to Bloomington several times before, and I needed something to convince them that they were not simply being used for their wallets.

How could I make it clear to my dad that he wasn’t just Mr. Cash and prove to him that I was actually doing something credible here in Bloomington? Something worthy of out-of-state tuition?

I had already shown my parents the IU School of Journalism and Hutton Honors College, among other key sites.  We took a desperately needed detox drive to Lake Monroe to admire our autumn scenery and several circles around campus to capture Bloomington’s culture — that was Friday.

With two days left to make the trip worthwhile, my heart was racing. The overwhelming pressure was getting to me.

I opened my laptop and was greeted by a Denver Post article informing me that Florida Gov. Rick Scott suggested universities scale back on psychology and political science degrees and focus on “science, technology, engineering and math degrees. ... Those types of degrees that when they get out of school, they can get a job.”

Here I am, a psychology and journalism major, watching my four years of fun fly by faster than I can fathom, and Scott is telling me that my degree is a waste of time. I beg to disagree.

The idea that college is supposed to act as a factory, spitting out technicians and mathematicians, misses an essential part of a college education’s worth.

Not only should we be preparing ourselves to enter the work force, we should be benefiting from the liberal arts education, the cultural events, the speakers and the programs that expand our minds and enrich our understandings.

The ability to think critically inspires growth that does not end when we are handed our
diplomas. We use the outlets available on a liberal arts campus to become more well-rounded individuals, enhanced additions to the world where the job market no longer caters to a single lifetime career.

Boosting creativity and generating passions that will energize us for the rest of our lives is just as much of an asset as being able to master the Pythagorean Theorem.

If the math majors aren’t taking advantage of the luxurious opportunities that ooze out of our campus’s classes and events, then they are at just as much of a loss as everyone else here.

Family weekend gave me the extra opportunity to remember IU’s greatness. The academic path I have taken at IU, along with the campus opportunities, leaves me feeling like I have done something great.

With the opportunities available on campus, no student should feel like less than Charlie in the chocolate factory, given a taste of the world’s sweetest gifts.

­— espitzer@indiana.edu