A Fucking Philosophy Major?!

Surely, at one point during my college "career," someone uttered the above with incredulity.  After I graduated and didn't feel so cool being a part of an elite academic department -- partly because I was becoming keenly aware of my dire debt any unemployment situation -- I would question myself over and over as to why I didn't do the smart thing and major in business.

I mean, who the hell gets a degree in Philosophy?  Obviously... me.  But that raises a further, more bewildering question: just who the heck am I?  And more importantly, just who do I think I am?  We study identity in metaphysics and somewhat in epistemology, but the issue of one's humanity only becomes less clear and it escapes question frustratingly easy.  

I'm trying to say I'm supposed to know who I am and what I'm to do with myself and how to proceed.  But I don't, even after studying the topic as a part of my impressively comprehensive curriculum.  The whole thing really gets to me, pisses me off, and very likely contributes to the reason I'm on a polypharmaceutical cocktail every day.  Anger.  Depression.  Alienation.  Anxiety.  Doubt.

But there's something genuine about the person who pursues a degree in the field that truly intrigues them and brings out their inner intellectual.  And, further to my credit, there's something disingenuous about the student who grabs a degree in whichever field is projected to net them the most money.  Aesthetically speaking, the one who remains true to their interests is of better character than is the one who almost literally sells themself out.

But that isn't recognized on any respectable level -- in any way that it deserves to be.  Employers ought to value such integrity and lack of lusting after cash.  We are good thinkers too.  We deliberate.  And focus.  Why can't we get hired?

The free market is losing out on a great pool of prospective employees when they overlook our potential and prefer those who are likely less serious about the work they're likely to be assigned.  Perhaps those that hire in this country hear the term "Philosophy" and just laugh when it comes to considering possible job qualifications.  A similar thing probably happens with Liberal Arts majors.  We are just ignored.  

The long-term effect(s) of nearly insurmountable debt, negative credit histories, and a market-determined difficult-to-employ available workforce.  Many of us that are not surely destined for making money will suffer and be left behind. 

I suppose the solution is for us to refuse to let it keep us down and out -- to continue seeking work as if were the most qualified applicants.  A positive outcome to this mounting problem also depends on there being actual real, feeling, sympathetic people out there who are a part of the hiring process at large.  Someone has to see this whole crappy situation and realize it doesn't have to be that way...