APS FATEHGARH

Myth VS Reality
1. Myth: Students who are not serious choose this stream
Reality: Students who choose Engineering, Science, or Commerce streams are labeled
‘serious’ or ‘studious’. Whereas students who choose humanities are labeled as ‘not serious’,
‘rebels’, or ‘don’t know what to do’.

Due to this mindset, many who do believe that this stream can be made through without any
effort may not end up doing very well. If you are good at studying it is seen as a waste of
‘talent’ on humanities. With this notion, those who are truly passionate and capable feel
inhibited to take a step into this stream.

However, we can now see many who score extremely well are actively involved with these
subjects. They are successful in diverse fields in the job market, which is self-explanatory in
proving how this myth isn’t true.

2. Myth: Humanities do not contribute to the world of work

Reality: Contrary to popular belief, Humanities contributes to almost every domain. Most
employers now are hiring people with humanities backgrounds, as they have better
interpersonal skills, are more empathetic, and are critical and creative thinkers. These skills
have been unanimously agreed to be the ‘essential employability skills’.

These essential skills are what help in the development and they truly contribute to many
aspects of the workplace. For example, engineers and innovators solve our problems using
technology; if they approach the problem using various disciplines like economics, history,
communication, etc, they will be in a better position to design the solution that helps
humankind.

3. Myth: Humanities is an easy stream

Reality: Obtaining a Humanities degree is as challenging as obtaining any other degree. Any
stream requires a different skillset and thought process. Comparing streams based on which is
easier or harder is not helpful as this concept is very relative. Someone who finds the arts
‘easy’ can also find maths easy’. In the end, it all comes down to interest and passion.

Students from all fields are asked to do a certain amount of reading, most streams involve
putting together different kinds of information and understanding. Yet as a humanities
student, you are also required to interpret, question, debate, and research for every topic.

4. Myth: Teaching is the only profession after a humanities degree

 APS FATEHGARH
Reality: Employers these days are looking for people with skills that are taught in a
humanities degree. They are interpersonal skills, teamwork, critical and creative thinking, and
analytical abilities. They make the individual flexible who can be employed in various fields
with their skills, and not just the jobs directly related to their degree.

For example, a philosophy majors’ communication skills may be the employer’s primary choice
compared to the engineering major who’s applying for the same job.

However, a few jobs that are directly related to humanities are:

International relations, Linguist, Human Resources Specialist, Foreign

Correspondent, Technical Writer, Advertising Sales Agent, Journalist, Genealogist,
Interpreter, Editor, Lawyer, Public Relations Manager, Counselling.

5. Myth: You need an inborn talent to be good at these subjects

Reality: “Can you study and analyze literature as I do?”

“No…It’s not my thing”

“Well, the same is with me for Math”