Follow the Passion 

Wang Shu’en 

A 20-year-old Chinese college student in Hunan Province 

As an old Chinese saying goes, knowledge changes fate. An ordinary college student carries expectations of several generations of his or her family. Consequently, a vast majority of high school graduates applying for college prefer to choose colleges and majors with good employment prospects.  

Two years ago, facing hundreds of majors, I was caught in a dilemma. Law seemed appealing, as it could offer a high income and a worry-free life, but I’ve never been interested in the tedious legal provisions. Languages are what I’ve loved since I was a child. However, languages don’t have good job prospects, and AI is making them even more irrelevant. Even then, my parents supported and respected my decision to choose a language as a major.  

It was the right decision for me. From starting with no foundation, to learning basic grammar, and now being able to read lengthy articles, my passion and interest have guided and supported me at every stage. Countless times, when faced with tedious vocabulary or periods of stagnation, that initial spark of interest kept me going. I have never been a naturally persistent person, and I can scarcely imagine how bleak my university life would have been without it. 

I consider myself fortunate, but many Chinese parents, eager for their children to succeed, push university students to follow their expectations and choose degrees with strong job prospects. Some are even assigned to majors by the enrolment system, spending four years in frustration and discontent. To those students, I would say this: university students are among the most energetic and spirited members of society. We should work to maintain a positive, optimistic outlook, and seek out areas of genuine interest within our field – for, after all, interest is the best teacher. 

In today’s society filled with anxiety over employment, I also occasionally feel anxious about my future. Yet I believe that as long as I stay true to myself, I will definitely have a day when I stand out! 

Align Interest With Demand 

Tich Richard Mushamba  

A 20-year-old South African logistics and procurement manager in Johannesburg 

Education has always been regarded as the key to success. Good university education is highly rewarded. In an African context, especially South Africa, a degree is worthless without any job prospects. 

When choosing a university major, one should strike a balance between job prospects and personal interest. Personal interest matters if one wants to enjoy studying a subject, but many African students cannot afford that, considering their backgrounds. One needs strong financial backing to study what one is interested in. This issue in South Africa is further complicated by a mismatch between skills based on personal interest and the demands of the labour market. It is hard to find a job after graduating with certain majors.  

I tried to select a major that aligned with my interests and had realistic career opportunities. I had a passion for moving goods and rearranging things as a kid, so I chose supply chain as a field of study. The expansion of the global economy and growth of e-commerce have increased demand for this major. Working for a Chinese multinational company gave me financial stability and the ability to pursue studies in international trade, thereby further improving my job prospects.  

In conclusion, while both factors are important, a thoughtful balance guided by self-awareness, market developments and long-term goals offers the best foundation for decision-making.