Hi! Are you doing well these days? I’ve received your previous letter and I know that you’re struggling about the subject choice. I’m glad that you asked for my advice. Take it easy, Mary. I’d suggest you choose accounting as the major course in university, and treat music as a hobby, rather than a subject.
Let me tell you four good reasons of my suggestion. Why are you thinking of studying accounting? It’s because of the better career prospects! I share the same view with you regarding the impact on your future career. Accounting is a profession with no doubt. It guarantees a better living due to the well-paid salary. It gains respect from others since not everyone can be an accountant even if they really wish to. What about being a musician? There is a stereostyped yet realistic image about musicians. It is putting much effort but receiving little (money). So, considering your future career, I think studying accounting is a better choice.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the type of people whose brains are full of dollar signs. I’m considering not only whether your study choice will fill your purse or not, but also your interest in music. I know that you started developing your musical sense at a very young age. It seems that before you could spell ‘banana’ correctly, you could already read and write musical notes. As your friend, I won’t ask you to give up your in-born talents and enthusiasm in music. Instead, I hope music can be your life-long hobby. You don’t have to stay away from your piano or violin, even if you choose to study accounting, do you? Take it as an extra-curricular activity, like what we used to have in primary school. During weekends, you can still enhance your knowledge and skills in music at some sort of music centers. As a result, you can, on the one hand, pave the way for becoming an accountant, and stay with your beloved musical instruments on the other hand. Isn’t it a win-win situation?
What’s more? I’m also concerned about the pressure you may encounter. For accounting, everyone knows it is not pressure-free. You have to do a lot of calculating and analysis. As for music, if you take it as an interest only, you will find it more enjoyable. But if you take it as a subject, which means mountains of tests, assignments and examinations, you cannot escape from the pressure it brings.
Take my enthusiasm in interior design as an example. As you know, I love interior design so much that I always read the books on teaching people how to draw drafts or how to make one’s living conditions more favourable. However, I’ve decided not to study interior design as my major in the future because I know once I’ve done so, I have to be an interior designer. When it becomes my job, the pressure from it will certainly escalate and make it less attractive. What I mean is, when one’s interest becomes his or her career, the enjoyment and excitement will probably decline, while the pressure will become heavier.
Furthermore, you mentioned in your previous letter that you can meet a lot of new friends having the same hobby with you if you study music in university. This is true but is not the only way out to achieve such a target. I recommend that you can take part in some music competitions, which will enable you to meet lots of competitors who are as interested in music as you are. Also, you may join some music clubs in your community, so you can share your experience and skills with the club members. In this way, even though you don’t study music, you can still meet people who are also enthusiastic in music.
I know you’re going to finalize your study choice in the coming semester. There is still some time left for a more comprehensive consideration. Ask for some more advice from your parents, teachers and close friends to help yourself. I hope my advice can help. Tell me what your final decision is!
Keep in touch and take care!
Best wishes
Chris