What Happened to Kindergarten? ~ My Major

"I really want to take Japanese in college."

"Oh, are you going into business?"

"No..."

"A translator then, you want to be a translator!"

"No, actually, I want to be a comic book artist."

"Then, why the Japanese?"

"I just want to know it."

I can't count how many times I've had this conversation. It seems to be programmed into anyone asking about college to assume that everything a student takes is directly related to what they want to do with life. What happened to learning just to learn? When did learning become something that I was no longer allowed to enjoy? I was pretty sure they told me that was alright in Kindergarten, and everything I learned there, you know, all that sharing and "Please, Thank you" stuff, seems to still be applicable. I'm paying to be here, so shouldn't I be getting what I want?

I want to major in Japanese. But, no, I have no interest in business, or working for the UN. I just want to learn the language, and a desire to do something, regardless of its affect or relevance to your future plans, should always be important. I'm not one to live according to what is expected of me, or what is deemed "normal." If I want to learn Japanese and German, but draw pictures later on in life, then that should be perfectly fine. It is rare to find a person who will pay for something they don't want in any other circumstance, but college seems to be an exception.

Too often, I hear conversations like:
"What are you here for?"

"Oh, medicine."

"Ah, you want to be a doctor?"

"No, my mom wants me to."

I hope that, soon, the rest of the college world sees why they're here. If you want to be a doctor, wonderful, do it. If you want to just draw pictures and know some languages on the side, then that should be completely ok, too. You're paying for it. If you want a Japanese and German sandwich, you shouldn't be paying for Business Burrito. However, if you honestly do have a desire for that burrito...

I feel strongly about language, and I feel strongly about drawing. I want to have someone teach me the languages and I'm willing to pay for it, so here I am. Japanese fascinates me, and I find it enjoyable. I like to learn it. Hopefully, somewhere, other people are starting to remember learning for fun too, and then we can all go back to Kindergarten.

Have fun in life, do what you love, and say "Please" and "Thank you."