I feel pressured to pick a STEM major (I’ve already tried two different ones) because of my success in high school, but I really just don’t like it. I do good in my STEM classes but they are so boring to me. I can’t imagine enjoying my life with a STEM career. I play guitar as a hobby and I’ve always liked reading. I like math, too, but I don’t want to be an actuary or anything like that. I HATE science with a passion. I’m introverted but can be outgoing to an extent. I’ve always thought teaching would be cool (high school math), and I would love to become an editor or something to do with journalism. I know I shouldn’t factor this into my decision but the stigma around these types of jobs bother me. And the pay isn’t so great. Is it worth it to pursue something I enjoy even though it might not be the most practical?
Yes, because as you’ve already found, it’s hard to excel in something that doesn’t interest you.
Lots of people who start out their careers in STEM or actuary/accounting degrees start their careers in that field and use it as a springboard into other fields. On the other hand, it is hard to start a career in journalism when there are few entry-level jobs.
I’m getting to this thread a little late, so I hope you’re still around. I think it’s a mistake to pursue a particular major/career just because it’s viewed as a hot field or high-paying. You spend too much of your life at work to be doing something you’ll ultimately dislike. (Nothing wrong with giving these majors a try, though, which sounds like what you’re doing!)
I faced a similar dilemma a couple decades ago. I had great high school grades, and was very strong in math/science. My guidance counselor was pushing me to choose a STEM career. “Women engineers can write their own ticket!” she said. And she was right. A lot of companies were looking for women engineers, and they definitely had higher starting salaries.
However I wasn’t “undecided” about what I liked. I wanted to pursue something in writing, although journalism was becoming a dying field even then. I did take some business courses along with my journalism degree to make myself more marketable. The most important aspect of what I did was getting a lot of actual writing experience and writing clips for my portfolio. This led to getting a half-time paid position as a University Public Affairs assistant. (education equivalent of a public relations job) It also allowed me to get a free master’s degree.
Long story short, I’ve had good-paying jobs doing writing in the fields of public relations, marketing and advertising. I had ONE brief job in journalism, while I was between “real jobs,” and that is the one that paid the least. Working for corporations pays quite well, even for journalism majors. And there are a LOT of companies who need people who know how to write.
Follow your heart. Good luck!