The women’s majlis: Work with your passion in life

For many of us, life decisions are made on our behalf every single day, whether it's what school we attend, where we dine or even what we should wear. This is especially relatable to the millennial generation when it comes to following our passions and dreams.

Let me tell you my story. Before graduating high school, I had to think hard about what I would like to major in when I entered university. In a society that still valued scientific fields more than arts and humanities, my options varied from medicine, ­environmental sciences and engineering. So, in my freshman year, I identified as an environmental scientist by education and a ­creative writer by passion.

Even though I’ve now switched majors (to international studies), I often struggle to make time to fulfil my love of writing, ­especially with the pressure of my other school and life duties. This has resulted in me only writing occasionally. I often share my writing with my Instagram followers and run a minor writing blog, but that’s it. This is the case with a big part of today’s youth – even though many have the ­capability and potential for greatness in their fields of interest.

So, you might ask, why don’t you simply pursue a writing career? The answer to that is that societal expectations place so much pressure on future university students, inclusive of myself, it often causes them to give in and study desired fields rather than what they enjoy learning.

Some might not completely give up on their dreams; instead, they keep doing what they love, but never on a scale that fulfils their desired capacity – what could have become a one-of-a-kind career is now just a hobby in their free time.

Another factor is the job market. Artists and creatives are not always in ­demand. That, in turn, drives students away from considering the fields they would love to study; they’re driven to believe they wouldn’t find jobs if they hold the degrees they would like to graduate with.

There are hundreds of career fields, with endless positions, beyond doctors and engineers. This isn’t to underestimate the scientific fields, as they make up a critical part of every society, but so does every occupation.

As a country, we need more Emirati creatives and artists to fill the unique roles in today’s globalised world. If students are allowed to study whatever they like and have a passion for, without the pressures society places on them, it would save local businesses the effort of hiring foreigners to fill some occupations. Not only that: these students probably will excel in those fields of their choice. Great professionals and productive members of society are those who have passion and commitment for what they do, every single day.

Mona AlKhateeb is an international studies student at the American University of Sharjah.

If you have a good story to tell or an interesting issue to debate, contact Melinda Healy on [e-mail].