Education Conversation

The summer is flying by and for me, that means only one thing-college is close. With college comes decisions and as I am moving out I wonder how my relationship is going to fare under the long-distance, new college-friend jealousy (on his part) and lack of time due to assignments and all the other collegey things that I am so anticipating.
I truly cannot wait. I have to wait till the 13th of August for my faithful results which basically determine the next 4 years of my life. If I do well- it's Trinity for me, if I do ok- NUI Galway and if I do shambolically- it will be an ordinary degree in Humanities from Carlow and/or Marketing in DIT. Shock horror. I so want to go to Trinity- it's the location,the libraries, the historical and magical presence as you walk through the arches, the alumni, I would just be honoured to go there. I wouldn't be devastated to go to Galway as it's a beautiful and vibrant city but the degree there isn't great. Aha yes what I'll actually be doing. If you think I'm reading too much into which college to go to well choosing which course to enrol in was no walk in the park either, since I'm so indecisive.
First I thought, ok this should be easy enough what subject do I like best in school? But the truth is, I love them all. I love learning, though one part of school I hated was Biology experiments, strangely I preffered the theory. Plugging in bunsen burners and sitting around waiting for a result really got to me. So I could rule out Biology at least.
Over the past year I have participated in countless 'career assessment tests' both in school and independently but I ended up doing so many that I was afraid I was only picking what I thought I should get, that I was influenced by the previous test's results. A really thorough inventory test (sent all the way to Cambridge I may add) showed that I had 7 really strong matches seven. Where most people got two or three I got seven that were almost 100% a match both in interest and suited me academically. From number one to seven- Modern Languages,English/Literary,Communication,Philosophy & Theology,International Studies,Media/Radio/TV/Film and Psychology. My mum hoped that I would come out with Medicine or Engineering. Something stable and concrete that would stand to me in job searching post-college. Nope. Straight the the CAO... mother I'm doing an Arts Degree!
My application has really odd courses on it, when I tell people I want to do Russian I am repeatedly met with 'Russian?! Why?!' 'It's so hard','It's pointless','What job are you going to get with that?!','Do Chinese instead' so much that I dread being asked what I want to do next year. You and your business degree go get stuffed. I want to do what I want to do. I don't know what career I want yet, I'm only 18. I mean I know I like writing,fashion,languages,current affairs,documentaries and learning about society and life. A job that could combine all those ingredients would be great, so for me, an Arts Degree is perfect. Granted I have Business Studies and Russian down on my application but that is because I like business too. I have a friend who is so talented at art, it is her passion yet pressure from her parents and wanting to get a well paid job in her mind led her to enrol in Commerce. She hated the course and failed the year. Thus proving my point. So mother, and all those quick to slate Arts Degrees are you doing what you love or just because you think it's a safe bet for a job? I know that my degree won't open the door to a career straight away but the economy is constantly changing and who knows maybe it's us Arts Students that will be in high demand in 5 years time? Okay it's not probable but I know for the next four years I want to something I'm passionate about no matter how 'pointless' it is!