2 - Analytical Essay: Major Selection

Major Selection

        “When there is scarcity and choice, there are costs.” - Robert Schenk (PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1977)

As each major offers a specific amount of seats, i.e. they are scarce; and if we have to choose our major, we have high cost in selecting. Especially for me who don’t have any special interest, it is much harder to select a right major.

        To lower my cost of selecting, it’s better to eliminate some options.

Department of Chinese Translation and Linguistics and Department of Asian and International Studies are of no interest for me, so I can simply skip these choices.

Department of media and communication, the most competitive major in this college, can fulfil (only) one of my interest - making videos; but I don’t think I can handle things other than that. And for Department of English, surely, I enjoy speaking English; but I don’t like reading literature. I can hardly understand one sentence, let alone understanding the whole passage. These two departments need an awful lot of creativity, but that is what I am lack of. So let’s skip these options.

Now, there are only two departments that I am “quite” interested in. By that I mean “quite” is not so sure, still in doubt. These two departments are: Department of Public Policy and Applied Social Studies.

Before the final decision is made, I would like to tell more about my personality.

I studied Economics. (That was my only interest.) This subject provokes analytical thinking and critical thinking. It also teaches me how to present our idea clearly. So I like arguing. If anything passes through my ears are found nonsense, I will probably point it out immediately and start arguing, no matter what standpoint I am in.

I enjoy debating, as well as counter arguing. With that personalities, politics may be the right choice for me. Politics needs critical thinking, analytical thinking, and expressiveness to convince others to stand on my side. In Department of Public Policy, there are three possible subjects I am majoring in: Environmental policy, Management and Administration. All requires some basic knowledge of economics, since economics includes several topics about government policies. I believe this would be my advantage.

 Yet, I like analyzing how people make choices. This is also a major topic in economics. As such, Criminology or Psychology may also be the right choice for me. It is interesting to find out how people think. By studying Criminology and Psychology, it feels like I can predict what people will do. Criminology and Psychology are very interesting topics. They analysis people’s behavior, explain why they would do so, and predict what their next steps are. This fascinating stuff does catch my eyes.

One factor I don’t consider much, is the future income. Earning a living is important, if not essential. But it is not as important as our interest. Happiness is invaluable. If I am given a chance to choose between a low-paid but interesting jobs and a high-paid but boring jobs, I will probably choose the former one. I put “interest” my first priority when choosing major; “ability” the second, and “future return” the last. Doing things you like will provides you motivation. Motivation encourages us to do better. Without any incentive, our works may end up in chaos and frustration. I experienced this in secondary school. I studied physics but then I lost my interest. I gave up living up to my classmates. (Actually I don’t have any interest on this subject initially.) So my performance on this subject was a disaster.

The question is still here: Which one is my interest?

I am facing a dilemma here. I won’t make any decision for the time being. It is just the beginning of the first semester. I still have a year to learn, to understand, and to explore my interest. After all, I hope I can make a “least cost” choice.

1 - Descriptive Essay: The Old Man

Old Man

        There is an old man. He affected me so much. I like that old man.

        My mom told me he has lived here, next to my house, since I was born. I saw him frequently, but I did not notice anything about him since I was still so young and what I care was all about playing. I started caring about things around me when I was an adolescent. I wanted to know more about that old man. I never spoke to him except to say “Hi” or “Good morning.” I knew nothing about him. But it started to change.

        He is skinny. He has a pointed face. His look always gets my sympathy, he gets my concern. Imagine an old man shorter and thinner than me: I am just 170cm tall with 55 kg. How much does he eat per day? He seems unhealthy; does he get enough food to eat? Looking at myself makes me feel shame: what am I complaining about when food looks awful?

He keeps wearing the same clothes every day, seems that is the only clothes he has. He is smelly sometimes, it seems he doesn’t clean up himself every day, or he does not change his clothes. I did ask my mom to let him in and take a proper shower. “No” was the reply.

        I heard him talking to himself sometimes. Where’s his wife? Is he alone? He always puts on a dusty green baseball cap, is that a gift from his wife? Under the baseball cap is his white and messy hair. Oh, he has a long beard as well. Did he just give up and left everything unshaved?

        He lives in a small broken house, with a tiny backyard. Strange as it may sound, there is a little tomb. Sitting next to the tomb, he stares at the tomb every evening. That should be his wife... He’s so lonely. I know it. Every time when I look into his limpid eyes, what I find is a lonely life. His eyes are telling me his story, a life full of sadness.

        He gets my sympathy. I gave him some of my unused old clothes. Though these are just little things, he kept saying “thank you” with a very soft voice. He hold my hands with his shaking, rough cold hands. I was so scared. I was afraid he is dying. He is so poor, but what can I do?

“I've been trying to do it right, I've been living a lonely life, you are the kindest kid I’ve ever seen. It’s more blessed to give than to receive. I believe you are the blessed one…” He spoke softly. I saw him dropping tears on his clothes. That scene kept appearing in my mind that night. I did not tell anyone, but I felt happy.

        I do not want him to die. I want to help him as much as I can. I do not want to see him lose hope. He is not alone. I’m not commending myself. I am just doing everything I can, as it’s more blessed to give than to receive.