Follow Your Passion (Preferably with Dental Insurance)

If you’re child is graduating this May, I offer a heartfelt congratulations.  I remember my own children’s graduation days.  I certainly can never forget my oldest son’s graduation party when the decoration mortar board on the celebratory cake covered the “CL” in the word “CLASS” so it didn’t say “CLASS OF 2014.”  No, it said something else.

We’ll leave it at that because technically this is a family publication.

For those with college graduates, there is always an added bit of stress attached.  The million-dollar question being, “What are they doing with the rest of their lives?”  Are they going to college?  Trade school? Or are they currently planning to live at home and sleep until noon every day while “figuring things out” and eating your expensive organic snack bars?

If college is in their future, the next question becomes: What will they major in?

This is actually the real million-dollar question since the cost of a four-year degree is rapidly approaching that amount. It’s tempting to intercede and offer sage wisdom. My husband, for example, always felt strongly that you can’t go wrong with a Finance degree. So naturally, both our sons earned one, even as our oldest continued the drum lessons he started in middle school and our youngest repeatedly reminded us that his dream job is “personal trainer.”

We explained that both of these pursuits make wonderful hobbies. Thankfully, they listened.

But what if your offspring is determined to chart a different path?  What if they feel that a Liberal Arts school or a Liberal Arts degree is calling to them and that life will remain emotionally incomplete unless they follow their dreams?

Let’s begin by noting that there are different kinds of kids.  Not everyone is meant to be an Engineer or Nuclear Scientist. You can usually spot those children in kindergarten because they spend recess building elaborate Lego structures and taking apart the toaster to “see how it works.” These people are born, not made. Their destiny was sealed by age seven.

Then there are the children who stare thoughtfully at clouds at six-years-old and announce by freshman year that they intend to “change the world.” By senior year, part of their college application includes an essay about the ethically sourced candle company they founded called Ember Soul.

Unfortunately, Ember Soul lost money immediately and collapsed shortly after Christmas break when they discovered wax costs more than expected and nobody wants a lavender candle that smells vaguely like beef jerky.

Still, the venture impressed an Admissions Committee at a tiny liberal arts college you’ve never heard of enough to admit them into Medieval Studies. That doesn’t last long, however. Sophomore year, after considerable soul-searching and one semester abroad in Prague, your child transfers into the Puppetry program.

Now before you think I’m knocking a Liberal Arts degree, I’m not.  I actually have one myself.  It’s a Political Science degree.  I worked hard for that degree and did so well that upon graduation I was hired by a Title Company as a back end closer, which sounds significantly more risqué than it actually is.  A year of that convinced me that all my education was perfect for my next school experience, Law School.

As a parent, your biggest concern is not whether your child is following his passion but rather whether his employer offers dental insurance.  Maybe that’s wrong, but it’s ultimately the difference between encouraging your child to follow her passion and having her remain a resident of your home past the age of thirty.  You also always want to appear encouraging, but sometimes it’s hard to muster up that attitude when you realize your child’s future resume will likely feature the word “Freelancer.”

So, should you share your concern with your child when his proposed degree path is something you thought was a hobby?

I think it doesn’t hurt to point out some obvious facts.  The biggest being the cost of said degree. 

“Now, wait a minute,” the college will tell you, “You can’t put a price on your child’s education.”

Actually, you can.  It’s about $240,000 over four years at many institutions of higher learning.  Paying all that money back is a concern.  The goal is, of course, that over time it pays for itself.  Unless Henry VIII comes back to life and sets up a Universal Kingdom, that degree in Tudor Studies isn’t going to cut it.

That leads to the next big question which is the earning potential of a Liberal Arts degree.  Currently, the average starting salary for Liberal Arts majors is between $35,000 and $50,000 per year.  In many major cities, that’s a living with Mom and Dad wage.  To grow beyond these numbers often requires even more education (and debt).

Enjoy this time between graduation and the beginning of the next great adventure.  And if your child’s plans include majoring in Archaeology, I would suggest waiting a while before converting their bedroom into a home gym.