“…Actually
I lied. I did not take economics and psychology because I liked them both. I had no interest in economics, and I was determined to do something that I, for once, genuinely love to do. First I thought it was anthropology, but cultural stuff got boring and repetitive after a semester. Then I found psychology, so there we go, a perfect combination between something practical that I need to take, and something unpractical that I like. The unpractical component of it slipped away after a while, so I sat back and enjoy my peaceful ride through college life, with a few bumps here and there but no dramatic changes that got me to ponder over my academic and career path all over again.
My junior year of college, economics suddenly became a trunk of treasure. I got excited and waited to come to money and banking. I got fascinated with econometrics and at the idea that I could now run models and write up papers “just like anybody else”. The more I learn about economics, the less I know, but at the same time, I’m still excited about the subjects. Macroeconomics specifically. Microeconomics is too technical, and lacks the exciting historical, political and social aspects of macro that I love. (No actually certain areas in microeconomics start to look REALLY interesting, thanks to the fact that microtheory stuff finally starts to make sense)
Parts of psychology, on the other hand, gets repetitive. Part of it may have to do with the little prospect of follow-through after I graduate. There is no chance that I will pursue a PhD in psychology and teach. There is little chance that I get a master’s in psychology, because it is costly, and job availability is low, especially scarce for international students. For recent college grads, it’s the same issue. And then, there is the question of coming back home and not being able to find a decent job with a degree in psychology.
So yeah, I’m going into economics. Social and/or economic development.
And in psychology, my area of interest is the self, and body language. (ummmm I’m not sure anymore)
And you know what, the ‘confrontation’ at the dinner table today made me realize that I do not get to be bored at anything. I have the power to open doors to so many more areas within each of the disciplines I’m studying. Time is limited though, but that is not a legitimate excuse! …”