Wednesday, June 15, 2005
(4:03 PM) | Adam Kotsko:
Practicality Sometimes Works
My parents were furious: "You're going to take a basic accounting class?! Adam, when are you ever going to use that?"I responded, "Mom, dad -- calm down. I've already taken all the literature electives."
"Then you can very well take some philosophy or religion courses! Something that you're going to use later in life."
"But you don't understand! Things are different now. An educated gentleman is expected to be just as conversant with AT&T's annual report as with Virgil's Eclogues."
They were skeptical, but they finally conceded that I could take the accounting class, as long as I overloaded my schedule in order to take Ancient and Medieval Philosophy as well. And now, wouldn't you know it? I did actually use that accounting knowledge today! I don't mean to rub it in their face -- like all parents, they were concerned solely with my full development as a person, to the detriment of my business acumen. In standing up to their narrow-minded insistence on a strict and rigorous liberal arts education, though, I equipped myself with the skills I need to succeed in the business world -- and learned a little something about myself along the way.
