What should I major in? 

Sometimes I’m envious of other classmates who already have obvious preferences in choosing their major. Like a friend of mine aims to study English. She never hesitates in answering this question and she strikes for a clear goal, which is gaining high scores to enter the English Department.  But, I get my own edge too. I’m open to more possibilities and I can analyze different choices rationally before making the decision. Right, let’s do it now.

First of all, I’m amazed by diverse subjects available in College of Liberal Art and Social Science. There’re 14 of them. It’s nice to have so many possible choices but on the other hand, it’ll turn into a real headache if I analyze all of them.

So firstly let’s categorize them into the Social group (including media, applied science etc.) and the Language group (including Chinese and English). Then, it’s easy to let go of the latter one because languages are only tools for me rather than interests. Also, I prefer studying about the society which allows me to relate myself to the world. Although some people warn that studying Social Science is difficult to seek a good job as it’s not professional enough, it’s what I love. I believe people only success in what they enjoy, and I decide to follow my heart.

After the elimination, I should pick the 3 most interesting subjects for detailed analysis. They’re Psychology, Asian and International Studies (ASIS) and Digital Television and Broadcasting (TVB). Without a doubt, I’m interested in all the above topics and I’ll study by heart whatever I enter. The question is which one should be ranked no.1.

Regarding this, I’ve thought of some criteria in choosing a major: it’s able to broaden my horizon; it’ll be useful for my future career; it’s able to keep my interest for a long time. The one subject that satisfy my needs best will be chosen. Hence, I need to take a glance about the programmes learning approaches and tell my feelings about them.

The first subject is ASIS. It emphasizes on theoretical thinking and practical analytical perspectives. It’s of similar learning approach with secondary school’s subjects like Liberal Studies, and I feel comfortable with it. It lets me reflecting current issues and deepening my perspective which is really meaningful to me.

While the TVB focuses more on technological skills. It allows students to gain first-hand experience in producing a programme in lessons! They will have a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. However, those skills may be unhelpful if someday I decided not to engage in TV production. It’s possible as I’m not sure about my career path yet.

As for Psychology, it stresses on doing research in the study of human behavior. On one hand, the topics arouse my curiosity. It fascinates me when I can get an insight about how individual behaves. But on the other hand, it’s sort of unimaginative to study human like an object in scientific ways. After all, when I finish a novel and sigh, “Why did the poor do that?” I’d prefer someone answers me like, “Because he is desperate”, rather than “According to the Marlow’s hierarchy of needs, his basic needs is not satisfied…”…

In short, taking the TVB does seem insecure in helping my future career, and Psychology may not be as attractive in the future as it seems now. Meanwhile ASIS teaches regional knowledge that could be useful everywhere. In addition, the diverse topics covered like politics, economics and culture can never bore me.

Therefore, I’ve decided. I should aim at the Asian and International Studies.

" Looking from the air "

“Hello, sir. Would you like a drink?” I shake my head to send the flight attendant away. They are like hawkers pushing carts here and there. People make noise as they chat, tear a plastic bag and bang the shelves’ doors shut. I sigh and put the headphone on, with no sound. I try to look through the solid window. There is a little ice stick on the outside of the glass. I try to look through it.

Down there, are the renowned big cities that we fly pass. But they look so small now. Landmarks distributed in different part of the city now aggregate together. The whole city can be viewed. Cars, houses, bridges, skyscrapers…in this size are all mixed together. I can no longer recognize each of them, but can only feel their existence from the lights they emit. I see thousands and millions of lights sparkling at the same time. White, yellow, green, red and blue... Assorted colors shine against each other, competing for a showy position.

While each of the cities trying their best to flaunt their prosperity, I feel dizzy. One city comes over one city. But all I see is one replacing another one. They all look the same. Their lights sparkle but their temperature does not reach here. Their shines become more and more harsh. I close my eyes.

Gradually, the plane climbs higher in the cold air. Metropolises shrink in size and lights faint. All of a sudden, the dark that surrounds cities become noticeable. A few curves are drawn on the continent. Some enormous figures pierce through mist. They are the mountains which are located at that place long before the cities are built. They are black in the dark. But strangely I can see their shapes. One hill connects to another. The mountain chain goes continuously. It is like the mountains work together to build a fence. Despite the vanity of the cities, they still try to look after the tiny kids who rest in their hands.

The plane keeps going up. It reaches the clouds, passes through a thick one. The time when I open my eyes again, the airplane is immersed in an abyss of darkness. The window becomes visible as light from the inside is mirrored. I try hard to see through the reflection of myself, and find that there are some glittering spots hanging on the sky. Unlike the artificial lights, they disperse themselves into distant corner in the universe. Their lights are not obvious. But still, as I pay attention to them, I can see them twinkling. These little stars mystically shine for a while, and weaken after that. Their lights are gentle to see, to admire...

Feel like a decade after, I move my sight away from the window. Lights are dimmed. The flight attendant steps on the aisle as light as a timid cat, avoiding waking up the human who are deeply asleep. I take off the headphone and the only sound in this cabin is made by the washroom door. “Swap”, passengers sneak in and out.

I close my eyes with a smile, and get into sleep calmly and comfortably.