During, Why a Liberal Arts Education Matters, Vedika Khemani is advocating the value and necessity of a broad, liberal education that is well provided with both technical subjects and humanities. Khemani grew up in Kolkata, India and came to the United States as a freshman in college to study physics at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. This school is a distinct arts college that specializes in science and engineering, while also enhancing its graduates to be well read in the humanities and social sciences. Khemani took intensive physics and mathematics classes, while also studying history, economics, linguistics, philosophy, and creative writing. She is now pursuing a Ph.D in theoretical physics at Princeton University. Most Indian students who are in there last year of high school are being asked, “What is going to be: engineering, medicine, or commerce?” In India, millions of students regularly compete for the short supply of college placements and job opportunities. Because of this, students want to study whatever will get them a job, creating a college experience much more related to “technical training,” rather than intellectual exploration.
In my opinion, it is understandable why these soon to be college students want to take the easy way out. They are extremely stressed, and education and job opportunities in India are very competitive. Vedika Khemani wants for students to be able to think critically and solve real-world problems. She believes that studying at a liberal arts college will allow students to be molded into well-rounded, well-informed global citizens with a wide skill set. With the economy the way it is, we need more college graduates who have a liberal arts education. This is because, the liberal arts system is said to create resilient people who can invent creative solutions and always have new ways by which to try things differently. Individuals who have a liberal arts education are able to communicate effectively and work well on a team, while inspiring others. We need more liberal arts education here in the United States. Like this article states, “Real-world problems rarely ever have textbook solutions.” This gives more reason to why drawing and painting offer perspectives such as critical thinking and synthesizing multiple ideas in one’s mind. This economy needs more liberal arts majors!
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