By Holly Taylor, Second Year, English
Have you ever felt as though you’ve chosen the wrong degree? That your degree won’t lead to a secure, high-paying job? I have — many times. And if that sounds familiar, I can assure you, you’re not alone.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved English. From learning phonics in my Year One classroom to analysing literature in secondary school, it was always clear to me what I’d study at university. I never questioned it.
Yet despite choosing a subject I genuinely love, I often find myself frustrated - even anxious - when people ask, ‘So, what do you want to do with that?’, ‘What can you actually do with an English degree?’, ‘What’s your plan?’ or ‘So you want to be a teacher then?’There’s a tone, sometimes subtle, sometimes not, that implies I’ve made a mistake. Suddenly, Economics or Business degrees start to look more appealing — not because I’m interested in them, but because society has labelled them as pathways to success and stability. English, on the other hand, is often reduced and demoralised to a teaching career or a life buried in books, which isn’t actually the case.
There’s a specific kind of fear that haunts students: the fear that you’ve taken the wrong path. Maybe you chose a degree you thought you’d love, but the lectures feel tedious and the essays weigh heavier than they should. Or maybe you chose something practical, something your parents approved of, but deep down, your heart aches for something else. And while you sit with that uncertainty, it feels like everyone else is sprinting ahead — sure of who they are and what they want. But here’s the truth: most people are faking that certainty.
It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing your quiet doubts to someone else’s polished success story from a one-week internship. But who’s to say they loved it?
We live in a world that rewards visibility. Achievements are curated and shared online, turning platforms like LinkedIn into a digital highlight reel which easily can flood a students mind with toxic thoughts surrounding their own achievements. It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing your quiet doubts to someone else’s polished success story from a one-week internship. But who’s to say they loved it? Who’s to say they’re not questioning their own path, too? We’re all just trying to figure it out. Some are just better at hiding it.
Epigram spoke to Lauren Stamper, second year Law student who expressed that she frequently found herself comparing my course to others despite beginning to enjoy the course overall. She elaborated, ‘instead of completely enjoying the educational pathway I’m on, I do feel myself comparing law to others in terms of the number of assignments, if the assignments are coursework, the number of lecture hours and the internship opportunities.’
When discussing whether potential earnings ever shaped her choice to study Law Lauren maintained: ‘Regarding future potential salaries, I don’t believe you should pick a course solely based on what society perceived as being the gateway to a high paid salary. I think you should choose a course solely based on how much you enjoy it and whether it interests you.’
Uncertainty is not a weakness. In fact, it can be a strength. You don’t know exactly what your future looks like? Embrace it.
Some days, university can feel like a race — with internships, placements, and graduate schemes sprinting toward others and away from you. It’s easy to feel left behind. But it’s important to remember: you are not your degree. You are not your CV. You are not your productivity. You are a student — growing, learning, and evolving, even if you don’t always realise it. And growth often looks like discomfort. Uncertainty is not a weakness. In fact, it can be a strength. You don’t know exactly what your future looks like? Embrace it. You don’t know what job you’ll end up in? Embrace it. You’re unsure if you chose the right degree? Embrace that too.
Speaking to Epigram, Mina Parsons, Second Year Maths and Computer Science student asserted ‘I think if you like your course, then actually you should be grateful you didn’t pick something else. If you don’t like your course, then yes, comparing it with something else will probably make you feel worse, because you’ll wish you had chosen that instead.’ We also spoke about how course comparison is almost a silent thief of educational joy, especially when focusing on potential salary outcomes from doing a certain degree in the future.
Mina said: ‘I think if you choose something solely based on high earnings and not interest or appreciation of the subject, you’ll end up hating your work and probably not doing very well at it anyway. And there is no guarantee you’ll come out with a high earning job from any degree, so it’s not worth putting yourself through three to four years of something you don’t enjoy.’
Hannah Stainbank
Ike Idikakalu
Chances are, you chose the right degree — one that reflects your interests and passions. The fear doesn't come from the subject itself, but from not having a clear, linear path ahead. But just because your subject might not be tied to one obvious career, doesn’t mean it lacks direction. In fact, it may offer more paths than you realise.
So keep pursuing the subject you love. Don’t let comparison rob you of your joy. Success looks and feels different for everyone. A six-figure salary doesn’t automatically equal the right choice or a successful life — not if it doesn’t align with who you are.
Know that you're exactly where you’re supposed to be, and embrace any uncertainty you may face along the way.
Featured Image: Epigram / Hanno Sie
Do you frequently find yourself comparing yourself to other students?
