So you've got an arts degree, now what?

Today I am writing about everyday empowerment.

As most of you know, I've had a significant change of heart about my course of study for next year. The process of deciding my course of study for this year involved facing a dilemma that presents itself to many arts students and graduates; whether to study law.

Like so many arts students, my ambition and intention was to eventually study law.

Initially I saw my arts degree as something I would put up with for a year until I could transfer into the Arts/Law double. What I did not anticipate, however, is how much I would love arts. By the time it came to the end of first year, I hated the idea of giving up a chunk of my degree in order to do law at the same time. I loved everything I was doing and didn't want to give any of it up. I told myself, "This is fine, you're young and not in a rush to finish studying. Finish the degree then apply for graduate entry law."

My 3rd year of arts was, in many ways, like a second round of year 12. I had decisions to make about my future and I wanted to get the best grades I could in order to maximize my opportunities. The decision making process was very different the second time around. I was no longer dealing with the prospect of studying law as means to fulfilling long term goal and becoming a part of my family's law tradition.

Gradually over my arts degree, I realised that I had become snookered by my own and others expectations. It is no secret that I have a fair amount lawyers in my family. My interests and abilities seemed lend themselves to being a lawyer. I loved debating and have always been the somewhat irritating person in the class who always ends up in a heated argument. I have been interested in politics and social justice issues for as long as I could remember as I would watch the ABC news with my parents before I had started school. The school I went to in Adelaide produces an extraordinary amount of lawyers. Whilst I was at school, I never seriously considered another potential career and no one suggested that I should consider anything else. My grandmother, Patsy, had even said to me that I "need that law degree". The logic all seemed to point in one direction.

Working at a law firm part time since I finished school had given me a front row view of the reality of being a lawyer. I saw batches of wide-eyed, bushy-tailed graduates learn the ropes, some of them to start their careers as lawyers, others did not make the cut. I got to know lawyers that I came to admire tremendously and others whose behavior did not indicate them worthy of much respect. I saw it as an environment that I could survive and potentially thrive in. What I also saw were a lot of things about the politics and the lifestyle of being a lawyer that I thought might have a negative impact on my well-being and my character.

This week I got accepted into 3 law courses across 2 states. I'm proud of this because I worked hard to make it possible.

I'm not tempted by any of these offers but what has surprised me is how empowering getting them has been. I feel freed by the fact that I know that I can. I'm not speculating that I "could have if I wanted to" to make myself feel better or to justify my decision to outsiders. I know for sure that I can and I have the proof. It has given me the facts to put some doubts to rest; I am smart enough and I can work hard enough. I no longer feel like I have anything to prove to myself in that regard.

I caught up with my beautiful friend Anastasia today. She is an incredibly bright girl who excelled at school and got into Arts/ Law at Monash easily. As an 18 year old, she was as certain as anyone could be that that was what she wanted to do. Ana has recently made a big decision about her future too, to discontinue the law component of her studies. At uni she has fallen in love with theatre and I've seen her flourish as a person due to her involvement with it. She is exceptionally capable but it has become apparent that law is not her deepest passion and has taken the courageous step to follow her heart.

When I saw her today, she too seemed empowered. She seemed free of the worry and stress of trying to do what she felt obligated to do, but did not have a passion for.

Please don't misunderstand, I'm not anti-law. It just isn't a path I want to want down at this point in my life.

There is something wonderful about feeling empowered in your own life. Everyone seems to be qualified to give their opinion these days and sometimes the people closest to us can be the least helpful. I'm very introverted in my thinking, I set my standards looking inward with little regard for comparing myself to others. That being said, I have found myself very overwhelmed at times trying to work out what the best choice is for me, trying to sift through invited and uninvited opinions to find my own belief. I hate to think how hard it must be for extroverts!

I think the reality is that if we are not empowered in our own lives, there is usually someone around who is willing to take our power from us. We each see this in abusive romantic relationships, tyrannical bosses or even just with overly agreeable "doormat" friends who always compromise and never stand up for themselves. The right choice is often the hardest one. It is the one that makes us feel most vulnerable and provides us with the least superficial support. I think the right choice is often the hardest because we need to show the discipline, strength and courage to choose it, in order to be worthy of its rewards or to prepare us to fight on. Have the strength to live the life you choose, not the one that happens to you.

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any"

 - Alice Walker