In her article Meet Generation Practical, Erin Anderssen writes about Ottawa’s Lisgar Collegiate students graduating and predominantly pursuing their futures in career-oriented fields such as science, rather than arts.

Throughout her article, Erin emphasizes academic achievements and involvement in various societies of graduating students, alluding to the fact that practical students go for lucrative degrees – the ones that will guarantee a job once they finish their studies. She writes about one honours student, “who might have considered an arts degree, but is headed for the more useful study of kinesiology at Queen’s University.”

Erin also refers to a student who is “not going to waste her time… on a university degree without prospects.” I believe that what you do with your degree is entirely your responsibility and your prospects are based on your efforts to better yourself during your studies and thereafter. A degree may help you get in the door, but you need to be able to effectively present your knowledge at the job interview. Prospects are completely relative to one’s engagement, activities, and personal networking with other professionals.

To say that one degree opens more doors or employment opportunities is presumptuous, considering that we are currently living in a reality that certified doctors are often working in other fields as their field of expertise does not necessarily reflect job opportunities.

Also, with so many changing professions and with the explosion of communications channels through the Internet, students will finish their degrees and be faced with jobs that didn’t exist prior to their studies. With an ever-evolving workforce that demands a specific set of skills and the ability to learn on the job, the ability to learn is the basis of success in any field.

Erin states that Lisgar graduates are “among the brightest graduates in the country [and] clear about their priorities: jobs with good salaries, creative opportunities, and, high on the list, a healthy family life… There’s no risking that future on an art history degree, for most of this graduating class.” I would argue that these are the priorities of anyone pursuing their post-secondary education, regardless of their field of study. The risk to one’s future is arguably more likely to happen if they do not attend post-secondary school at all.

According to Erin’s article, the majority of graduating students from Lisgar will be pursuing science or engineering degrees, outnumbering future arts students about 3 to 1.

Erin states the graduating students have “‘brave’ peers who will be pondering the big picture in philosophy class next year, or sipping coffee in Paris.” I absolutely believe that students pursuing philosophy should be commended for their willingness to actively improve their ability to write, think critically, and analyze, and that they should be encouraged to pursue a discipline that will allow them to think critically about their futures.

And what ever happened to the notion that experience is the best educator? I appreciate that not everyone can afford to travel upon finishing their high school studies and delay university, although I feel that traveling is one of the best ways to get to know oneself and learn what’s out there.

I also agree with Ms. Byrne, 18, an honours student from Lisgar Collegiate, cited in Erin’s article, who says “Our culture is so much more focused on things being a means to an end that we don’t see that just learning about anything for the sake of learning can be an end in itself.” I feel that learning is indeed a means to an end in any discipline as it allows one to expand their mind and evolve as a thinker – an excellent start to any career.

In A liberal education, Jeffrey Heenan responds to Erin’s article supporting the argument that one’s ability to map out and plan their next step is of far more importance than the area that one actually studies. He states that Erin’s article “perpetuates the fallacious belief that university degrees in the arts are worthless… Finding a good job after university is far more a matter of resourcefulness than it is your degree.” Jeffrey goes on to say that although some fields might appear to have it easier, recruiting firms are pursuing top students with high marks. I couldn’t agree more with Jeffrey that students with good grades demonstrate a high degree of determination and ability to learn. So why shouldn’t we encourage students to pursue fields of study that will allow them to excel academically based on their interests? Any person with the ambition, commitment, and right mindset will find a good and desirable job. Jeffrey stated that the last two prime ministers in our country had arts degrees. Any thoughts?

Nora Parker’s response to Erin’s article states that in a time of recession, students may feel the push to pursue career-oriented degrees although she advocates the study of liberal arts for personal growth. One thing I will say about my arts degree is that I learned how to think while completing it. Mostly, I thought about where I wanted to apply the knowledge that I gained through my university studies. Then I pursued public relations through college.

The Algonquin College public relations program offered a practical approach to studies and offered opportunities to gain hands-on experience. And my university studies allowed me to lay a strong foundation for the knowledge I now need to effectively practice communications. Studying sociological theory allowed me to understand patterns of social behaviour among various groups that have definitely benefitted me in my profession. Where have my studies taken me? I now work in communications with engineers and it all started with my arts degree.