Recording-2025-03-07T02_33_27.993Z

Introduction to Economics Journey

• Peak Valley Peak symbolizes the journey of choosing a major.

• Importance of drone footage for upcoming video.

• Request for comments on why viewers chose economics as their major, aimed at helping others undecided about their majors.

Peak 1: Initial Interest in Economics

• Interest began in senior year of high school through AP Economics.

• Background with a father interested in economics and finance.

• Key summer reading assignments:

  • Freakonomics

  • The World is Flat

• Both books resonated deeply, sparking interest in economics.

• Remarkable aspect: "Economics just makes sense"; many share this sentiment.

• Notable memory about EverQuest, a MMORPG, where economics principles applied: exchange rates and wage rates governed by economic laws.

Valley: Doubts and Discouragement

• Experienced discouragement after being rejected from multiple selective schools at the end of senior year.

• Rejections led to questioning the decision to major in economics.

  • Specifically blamed choice of economics when rejected by MIT.

• Assumed that economics was not a serious field compared to engineering or computer science.

• Shifted focus to computer science as it promised marketable skills and job security.

• Although had an interest in coding since age 12, the motivation for pursuing computer science felt more logical than passionate.

Peak 2: Realizations about Career Paths

• The first year studying computer science:

  • Focused on necessary classes: physics, math, computer science.

  • Found no enjoyment in classes, leading to frustration.

• Example of frustration: struggling with a coding project but failing to experience satisfaction upon solving it; no sense of enjoyment in the process.

• Acknowledged that enjoyable paths should involve solving hard problems with rewards.

Peak 3: Influence of WALL-E

• Watching WALL-E triggered a critical realization:

  • Negative view of life focused on the screen, representing potential future as a computer science major.

• Contrast between desire for interaction and the reality of computer science.

• Desire for a career involving teaching, fostering connections, and opportunities to engage with people.

• Decision made to major in economics, prompted by the emotional realization influenced by the movie.

• Connection to previous videos about the economics of Pixar; the influence of popular culture on academic choices.

Emotional versus Logical Decision-Making

• Discussion on the balance between emotional and logical decisions when choosing a major.

• Importance of considering feelings and emotional connections to subjects.

• Relate back to the enjoyment found in economics and the emotional satisfaction it can bring.

• Encouragement for viewers: if they feel connected to economics, pursue it regardless of logical doubts.

• Availability of playlists on logical reasons to study economics for additional guidance.