HackUMBC

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 16:15:55 -0400

In one of my first blog posts, I wrote about the stigma against liberal arts majors; the idea that liberal arts majors are somehow inferior to STEM majors because of the difficulty of their majors. I don’t think that that is true, in the least bit. I think that many liberal arts majors can accomplish and master the difficult of STEM majors, and I believe that they should.

You might be asking yourself why should you, though? Why does it matter having skills in a field that isn’t directly related to what you’re interested in? In a world that is becoming so heavily reliant on technology, having some STEM background is favorable. Knowing a little coding can make you extremely competitive. When applying to jobs in the Social Sciences, skills in the STEM field such as coding make you stand out in a sea of people with similar experiences.

Since I was little, I wanted to be an astronomer. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent watching the TV show Cosmos or those specials on National Geographic, trying to make sense of the world. But after taking my GT Physics class in high school, I was fairly certain that I was incapable of learning the math and science necessary to succeed as an astronomer. So, I switched gears and focused entirely on law. In retrospect, I’m happy with my decision. There are, however, times when I wonder whether or not I could have done it; I only made my decision based on one or two classes. There are times when I stare at my course catalog, wishing I had taken particular prereqs so I could take the science classes I was interested in, even if I didn’t major in the field.

Then I think about what skills I’ve learned being a Political Science major that would help me in a STEM field. On the surface, I think none. Then I remember that I’m a critical thinker because of these classes. I can look at a big chunk of text and find minute details, figuring out ways to connect these thoughts together. These are skills that translate in the STEM field.

I don’t see the world in black and white. In my mind, two plus two doesn’t always equal four. I think I don’t belong in the STEM field. But, just because I’m not a methodical thinker doesn’t mean I’m not valuable. We want majors of all kinds on our Mock Trial team. They bring a new and exciting perspective on facts and details that many of us see the same way, and vice versa. Imagine how different the world would be if we had doctors with a background in social work taking care of patients.

We all matter, so that’s why I say don’t knock it until you try it.

HackUMBC is coming up the weekend of April 29-30, and I suggest that you all check it out or submit an application to be part of it. Applications are rolling. To find more information, visit http://innovate.hackumbc.org/. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to learn new skills and test the waters of a field you may not have ever considered.