Score one for my liberal studies classes

I always have an inner-battle of sorts about my liberal arts classes. Obviously, I love classes in my major, but sometimes I question why I take other classes.

On one hand, they are always so interesting, but at the same time, I find myself trying to focus in on the classes in my major. This semester, I’m taking three major classes, improvisation, audio and principles of design; one minor class, editing and production for print media; and two liberal studies classes, history of contemporary philosophy and environmental issues.

However, this week one of my liberal studies classes stood out from any other course I’m taking when I found myself discussing the topic with my boyfriend.

This week I was talking to him about one of the history courses he’s taking at Ithaca College and a paper on slavery in the south. After a while, I found myself bringing up philosophical views we had just been tested on in my history of contemporary philosophy class! We talked for a while about how according to the philosophy of Hegel, there will always be ideas that only make sense in the historical context they are in. I could only think about how a few days earlier I wasn’t sure I would ever remember this information after the test, and here I was having a legitimate conversation about it with my boyfriend.

It really surprised me, but at the same time made me really happy that I have classes like that to take instead of just being stuck in the track of learning only ONE subject day after day.

I was thinking similarly about my environmental issues class. I’ve always been pretty interested in learning about the environment and ways to help it in this day in age. Even today at Starbucks there was a sign telling customers that they will no longer be giving out the paper sleeves to save paper, but that you can still ask for them if you must. Concern for the environment is everywhere today, and I feel like I’m on the cutting edge of it by taking this class now.

I guess what I mean to say is if you are concerned that liberal studies classes are just going to be a distraction, I can tell you from my experience that they’re not. Who doesn’t like to have well rounded information they can use in the future rather than just having the tunnel vision of a specific subject.

Score one for my liberal studies classes.