Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are the four disciplines that create STEM, a well-known abbreviation that carries the assumption of success and money.

Young adults are pushed into STEM as the older generation, their parents, believe it will result in a high-paying career after graduation, which is considered a success in life.

Growing up, many adults tried to persuade kids in school to go towards STEM and ditch our hobbies that appeared to have no value. Drawing used to be part of an assignment, creative writing was used to build writing skills and computer software like Adobe was taught to us. Creativity used to be praised by our parents and hung on the refrigerator door.

Yet, as I got older, my creative hobbies were disapproved of as it had no value in the eyes of my parents. I started feeling ashamed of drawing and began using my pencil in approved subjects like math.

In my younger years, I was an art student who was expressing my feelings through a canvas. Now at college age, I am a mechanical engineer major who has done well in math, science and technical courses. I am praised for my grades and prestigious major, but I always feel a void of passion.

Some can say my canvas changed and I can still create art, but I will always feel a lack of passion and be discouraged from following creative hobbies.

Karina Madrigal

Hermiston

 

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