One question that frequently lurks in the minds of students is "What do I really want to study?" This dilemma first presents itself after the PMR(Penilaian Menengah Rendah)when a student has to choose which stream he wants - Arts or Science?

Then,when the student finishes secondary school, it attacks again with vengeance.This time is the form of "What degree do I want to take? Medicine? Accountancy? Finance? Law?". The options are endless.

Some people are sway towards a "safe" choice or the "logical" path.If they are smart and good in biology, they go for medicine or biotechnology. If they are good with numbers, they choose either maths and statistics or accountancy. Some even go to the extent of (with much insult to the business field) choosing to study business when they consider themselves of low academic calibre.

These options are normally what parents would expect their children to pursue, what society would pressure students to read and what peers would encourage peers to pursue. They are the "safe" fields with high income potential and stable employment. They are the "logical" fields for people with different academic calibre; some for the not-so-bright and some for the really smart.

But is this really true?

The truth is, there is no such truth.

Around the world, despite their supposed "stability", even employees in the fields of finance, law and accountancy have been dismissed due to the econimic slump. Many highly intelligent people could have easily pushed thier way to a doctorate in the "smart" scientific fields, gave up their studies to pursue other things(Bill Gates and Steve Jobs being two of the examples out there).

Some people don't even use what they studied in their everyday work life. Surely you've heard of the engineer turned organic farmer or the banker turned char koay teow hawker?

So, does it really matter what others think about what you study?

It doesn't matter if people consider what you study as "weird" or "odd". It doesn't matter if people consider that you have taken a wrong turn when you chose what you study. It shouldn't matter if your parents are tugging you towards something that you don't want to study. It shouldn't matter if society thinks you're too smart for that particular field of study or too stupid for another. It doesn't matter if your friends don't fancy the degree that you have chosen to study. The only thing that should matter is whether you have the passion for it and whether you, and not anyone else, desire to pursue it whole-heartedly.

Many people who entered a field of study because of parental, societal or peer pressure, end up regretting it. They would have wasted at least three or four years of their lives studying something that they never did like. Then, they would either end up growing bitter as they slog through a career they never would have liked of binning the degree and studying for another one which thay are truly passionate about. Would you want to be one of these people? I'm sure you don't.

Successful people often say that passion and desire is what drives them to go to the extra mile and succeed. Walter Chrysler once said that "The real secret of success is passion and enthusiasm". That should also translate to our studies. In order to be the best in our field, we should also be passionate about what we intend to study.

We should study what we love and make passion the main thing that drives u sto study. Then, success will surely come.As Anthony Robbins put it, "Passion is the genesis of genius".

Some of the world's greatest scholars and scientists would not have existed if they did not have passion for their field of study.

Take for example, Marie Curie; a great scientist. In her era, there was much disdain among the scientists. People simply could not fathom the idea of women scientists being able to create work that was original and of high calibre.

However, that did not stop her from continuing her research and her studies. She preserved and managed to became the first woman professor at the University of Paris. She was also the first person to be awarded two Norbel prizes - one for her contributions to Physics and another to Chemistry.

Despite people frowning upon her and having no belief in her capabilities, she managed to push through with flying colours. That can only be attributed to passion. Her work in discovery of new radioisotopes opened a new paradigm in physics and chemistry which has changed the world.

She could have just given up due to societal pressure and settled on being a typical woman for that age - taking care of the children, her husband and doing her chores. Imagine if that had happened! The world would not have advanced at the pace it had and is advancing now. Without nuclear energy, many homes would not have light. Without radioactivity, there wouldn't be television and computers. The world would still be in a sad and dismal state if not for Marie Curie's discoveries.

Therefore, we should not be held back by family, societal or peer pressure when choosing our field of study. We should weigh if really have passion for what we are about to undertake before we actually jump into it.

If you like zoology, go for it and make your mark. If you fancy forensic anthropology, put pursue your dreams. if you are passionate about cakes, go forward and claim your slide of success. Let not the pressures of the world hold your back, but free yourself to obey your heart's desire.

Phewww.
Finally done typing the whole thing = =
I hope you will read it although it's kinda long. :)