<p>Lately I have been knocking around serious ideas for my essay and I'm having a hard time figuring out what to write about. One thing that keeps drifting back into my head is my decision to go into art (graphic design). Up until a few months ago, I was planning to go into the much more academic world of computer science, until going away to a summer program and realizing that programming is really not my cup of tea. Coming back into the school year with a very heavy math/science based schedule, I switched out of physics in order to get into an art class, which i have been warned may cause me to drop in class rank.</p>
<p>I know this sounds very dull when I word it that way I have, but this was a really mind opening experience for me. I've been raised with a very strong focus on academics, getting the highest GPA I can, etc etc. As a result, even as my parents put less and less presure on me, I put more and more on myself, often making myself miserable and forcing myself into subjects that I can't stand all for the sake of a grade. Right now I am second in my class and the idea of that spot dropping was almost sickening to me, but that art class, just that 1 hour block a day, has made such a huge difference in my happiness and overall mindset. The essay would be less about me switching out of physics (how dull) so much as it would be about me learning that, though I know I have to word hard at what I do, I need to do what I'm passionate about. Life's too short to spend it grinding away at something that doesn't fulfill you.</p>
<p>I have a few concerns with this topic. Firstly, it would be a bit more difficult to grab a reader with-- it's not an event, like I see many people write about. Secondly, I'm afraid of it somehow reflecting poorly on me as a student, like it could be misconstrued as me saying that I've decided I don't want to work anymore. Thirdly, I'm a bit nervous that it might be cliche. So, I figured, why not come on here and ask for opinions!</p>
<p>I'd appreciate any thoughts, and thank you!</p>