I need to choose now. (Passion vs. Wealth)

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I'm not a good writer; my writing is very unorganized.
please understand since I'm an international student.</p>

<p>I read a post by someone called spydertennis,
"Don't do it just to get into college..."</p>

<p>And he says
"Every passion on a high school app is faked. And for those of you who have real passion but didn't get in cause you were too narrow minded and the kid who had your achievements, but not your passion and other stuff besides that gave you what you deserved. I don't feel sorry for you, I laugh at you and your passion, I got into college I wanted, you didn't, You and your passion didn't play the game well enough."</p>

<p>If that is really true, then the 18 years I lived have been a waste of time.
Because I love art, I have been drawing since I was born. All my ECs
are art-related too. (newspaper layout designer, talent show set designer,
illustrator for children in the city I live in...)</p>

<p>But seeing someone say that makes me feel completely worthless, because
he is saying that it is wise to give up all of my 'useless' ECs and take up
"model UN" and some other well known ECs...
(I love my ECs.. I enjoy doing them but It's not really too helpful for
college admissions.. </p>

<p>People might say 'just shake it off, he's just a jerk' but
I know that he is right to some degree.</p>

<p>The thing is that I'm korean, and I want to go to an art school...
Art is what I'm passionate about, and art is what I want to do.</p>

<p>but I'm scared that If i go to an art college, other koreans
will look down on me because in my home country 'art' is for stupid
kids who only wants to go to 'a' college. </p>

<p>To make things worse, my sister is majoring in political science in
berkeley... to become a lawyer... and I'm afraid my relatives will
compare me and her. (I've had middle child complex since I can remember.)</p>

<p>I think my mom loves me and doesn't care as long as i'm happy,
but I think she wants me to have a financially secure job... (like almost all asian parents do)</p>

<p>To make matters worse: I do love spending money (-_-)
my mom's argument is that artists flip burgers at Mcdonalds...
so having an art profession might make me unhappy.</p>

<p>Ahhhh
I'm also afraid that I might just not HAVE the talent to succeed.</p>

<p>I think it's time for me to decide: art or a secure profession?</p>

<p>What makes this decision hard is that I'm about equally good at
both art and the academics. My mom hopes that I'll go to berkeley
or U.Michigan and major in business of life science... and be a
business 'women' or a doctor.... (very asian, I know.)</p>

<p>I want to choose a path that will make me happy in the end.</p>

<p>I know there are some of you who lived longer and experienced more,
so may I get a bit of advice?
Did you ever regret not choosing a certain path?</p>

<p>Am I just being naive and childish by insisting on an art major,
when I could shoot for a well-known, academic university where I'll at least be respected back in my home country?</p>

2

<p>I had a colleague at Disney who was half asian and he went to Berkeley and got a degree in biology, like his parents wanted. After graduating, he spent a year as a technician processing biomedical waste. He quit and put himself through CalArts. He came to Disney as a clean up artist and is now a visual development designer for movies. Yes, if you have the talent you can make a living.</p>

3

<p>You do not have to go to an art school to study art. You can get an excellent art education at a well-known, academic university! If I were you, I’d shoot for a good college with a reputable art department; there is no need to lock yoursef into that “art school only” option. In a university, you will be exposed to other disciplines taught by world-renown professors (and those infamous TAs, you know ;)). Who knows, may be you deveop another passion during your next 4 years? I know a couple of folks who wanted to become writers, got their BA in English, and then got intrigued by genetic engineering. Guess what? They have PhDs in genetics and work as researchers.</p>

4

<p>Friend of a friend graduated two years ago with a degree in graphic art from UC Irvine. She recently got a great job in advertising in San Francisco. Do what you love — the rest will come.</p>

5

<p>Don’t go to Art school. Everybody I know that went to Art schools loved art and hated art school. One kid hates it but has to go there because of financial issues. Another considered art school to be as intellectually challenging as hungry hungry hippos and quit quickly. The third had philosophical conflicts with several professors and in protest intentionally got Fs in their classes.</p>

6

<p>Instead of attending art school, consider going to a college or university that offers a variety of majors.</p>

<p>Consider:
a) double majoring in art and ‘something else’
b) major in art and minor in ‘something else’
c) major in ‘something else’ and minor in art</p>

<p>In today’s uncertain job market, having multiple skills/education can be an asset.</p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>I think that this person is excessively cynical. I had actual passions in high school, and wasn’t much of a “game-player” with my app, and I got into the colleges I wanted. This was true for most of the people I knew in college as well. Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.</p>

8

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<p>You can’t allow your relatives’ opinions to have this much control over you. If they compare you (to your face), you need to tell them to knock it off.</p>

9

<p>I agree with the others; go to a good university that also has an excellent art department. That way you will have a strong degree, should you decide you don’t want to continue in art, you will pacify the relatives to some extent, and you can still pursue art and get the instruction you need to improve in that area. In addition, this may help you find new ways to use your art, combined with another interest perhaps.</p>

<p>And ignore the advice about faking EC’s. Both my sons only did EC’s that they really cared about, and both got into colleges they loved. Model UN is a great EC–I did it myself many, many years ago–and it is especially good for someone applying for political science or international studies. There is no reason a prospective art student needs to do it, however. Stick to your passion; in the long run, that will be best for you.</p>

10

<p>Agree with posters who say make art a major or minor at an academic institution.</p>

<p>Also, you are giving too much of your power to others. I know you’re young, but at some point you have to learn to not let others influence your decisions so much – some anonymous person on a msg board, your relatives, “Koreans.”</p>

11

<p>A wise man once said, “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.” There are MANY jobs in art that aren’t starving artist situations. Go to the university, take 2 majors, and then do what you love!</p>

12

<p>Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you will always be able to make a good living in the “practical” field people urge you to enter because it has a high starting wage with a bachelor’s degree. Outsourcing and all kinds of changes that we can’t even predict right now have and will throw thousands of programmers and engineers and finance people out of work during your lifetime. Do something you love.</p>

13

<p>I don’t know any wealthy artists, but I know lots of ones who are comfortably off. Some have day jobs like teaching, or book design or advertising. I know one who is a children’s book illustrator, but also does more serious painting. Another friend does medical illustration. If you want to make it work you can.</p>

14

<p>[url=<a href=“Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos”>Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos]Passion[/url</a>] vs. [url=<a href=“Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos”>Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos]Wealth[/url</a>]</p>

15

<p>Nicorobin, it sounds to me like you don’t even have to make this decision right now. Why not go to the “well-known academic university” and then study what interests you, including art? </p>

<p>The poster you refer to sounds limited in his/her idea of what’s practical and what’s not.. I know many people in design, architecture, photography, and graphic arts making very good money. Even a few independent fine artists who are doing perfectly well. Anyway, ask around, get a variety of opinions and don’t worry that you’ll have to give up studying art if you go to a university. There are a LOT of options: internships, studying art abroad, graduate study. </p>

<p>Once you’re attending school on your own, what you want to do will become more clear, especially after that first year.</p>

16

<p>At many schools, including UC Berkeley, students are allowed to design their own major. So, you could kill two birds with one stone and design a major (probably have to be in the humanities area) that ties art in with political science, sociology, psychology, etc. Be creative and do your own thing. You get an adviser and decide what to study and follow your heart. There are so many professors who will inspire you there! You can also choose to attend a school like USC which encourages double majors, especially in diverse fields of study, for example: art and biology. They have a program called Renaissance Scholars and students who are RS get honors at graduation and, knowing USC, are probably eligible for grants and scholarships for their undergraduate studies. Read about it on their website. If you really just want to study art, then go for it. If your talent does not end up providing you with the income you desire, then try to become a university art professor. My best advice is to pick a university that offers a lot of programs, including art, so all of your options remain open while you decide if you like your major. And, at orientation for my younger son this week, I heard stories from actual parents of art majors whose children were (GASP) gainfully employed despite their art major. I was asking because, as a parent, I cannot imagine what kind of job my art major son will have when he graduates from Berkeley! Still, college is the time to go for it. It is always harder later when financial obligations restrict one’s ability to take the low paying internship, or otherwise follow the dream. Go to the BEST university you can and get internships right away. Many big universities have museums that offer jobs and internships to students. Another thought, get a minor in communications or business or philanthropy so you will be employable at museums while you toil to become self supporting through your art. Good luck!</p>

17

<p>As far as ECs go, ignore the cynic. He says that he “faked it” and got into the college that he wanted. Yes, sometimes it happens. But think about it - if a college won’t take you because of your true passion, because it’s “not enough” for them, is that the college you really want to go to? Do you want to have to “fake it” for the next four years, as well as faking it during high school? I wouldn’t. Live your life the way you want to live your life - some people, and I would bet that includes the cynic, never find a passion. You’ve found one. Go for it.</p>

18

<p>Have you heard of this- “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” It’s far too true if you’ve found something you’re truly passionate about. I had money in my freshman year and it did not make me happy even though I was enjoying my academics. Then I took an internship at my dream place but it was uinpaid. Nevertheless, I loved my work and found my passion there that I was willing to live very frugally in DC (can get expensive if you’re a spender like me!). The following summer, I got a different internship but at the same place (I was willing to go back for no money!) and it was paid this summer. I lived very well but I loved my work more.</p>

<p>I think you’ll find that if you love your passion enough, money won’t matter so much… I mean I love those Steve Madden shoes… but… I can sacrifice just to do what I want to do. :slight_smile: You won’t have the same kind of feeling if you work in a different field.</p>

19

<p>Two things: </p>

<h1>1 - I have two daughters going to Harvard. The best thing they ever did for their college applications was to never have done anything primarily for the purpose of college applications. They were all about their passions, and when they applied to college, it apparently showed.</h1>

<h1>2 - Take your passions to the best college you can, pursue them with all your energy, hang out with amazing peers who have different interests, and add new passions as you go along. It will make you happy, dedicated, interesting, effective, engaging, and eventually, employable and promotable. If along the way you feel led to commit to a pre-professional track of studies, do it, but only if you’re passionate about it. Most professional fields employ skilled technicians who contribute their skills, under the leadership of persons with liberal arts backgrounds who learned how to communicate, evaluate, combine knowledge from different fields, and lead.</h1>

20

<p>First of all, look beyond your ethnic heritage, never feel bound by stereotypes. Your world is not bound by Koreans, you are not limited to expectations of friends and family. That is probably the best thing about being in the U.S. All parents, not just Asians, want their children to have a secure future; perhaps those who are natives have a sense of security and have more confidence in what may seem risky to a newcomer as leading to that secure future. You are not your sister, do not think of following in her footsteps- her major and school may work for her but not for you. Follow the advice regarding a more comprehensive college instead of an art school, you may discover other passions. Yes, you can have true passions, a passion for art is just as good as a passion for politics or medicine. Don’t worry about some teenager’s cynical view, they know no more than you do about life. It doesn’t matter at all what the average, or majority, of HS students are like; it matters to you who you are and what you want in life. Your EC’s reflect who you are and what you enjoy doing- I would not want to be that person who has external instead of internal forces directing my life. Go to an academic institution with good art programs so you can do both. It sounds like your mother will support your decision but worries about it- once you are in college you will learn a lot more about being in art and will be able to reassure her or add in other courses/ a second major to support your passion for art.</p>

<p>In other words- go for it. You will not regret starting in your passion and modifying your plans but if you never try you will always wonder if you should have gone for art.</p>