Engineering is, like, so hard.

I went into Greenville to work at my new job. I met an intern who was going to Clemson, and we started talking about majors, etc. I told her I was going into environmental engineering, and she gave me the most astonished look I think I've seen on a person. It was like I told her I was going to be the next president of the United States. No, worse, like I was planning on birthing the next president of the United States. And that I just knew the baby was going to be the next Mozart, as well. Here's how our conversation went:

Intern: "That's, like, the hardest degree you can get." (Still with the look of bewilderment.)

Me: "Actually, it's considered one of the easiest of engineering degrees [which is not the reason I chose it--I chose it because I want to go into water resources management, and from what I've read, this is the best degree to have], but I had considered chemical engineering as well."

Intern: "Yeah, that one's pretty hard, too. [This coming from a business major.] I mean, you have to, like, really really want to go into engineering."

Me: (smiling, but trying not to roll my eyes) "I know, and I do."

Intern: "You have to take, like, physics--"

Me: "I took physics I, but I have to take physics II. The engineering classes have been my favorite."

Intern: "--chemistry--"

Me: "I've taken them all. Actually, I loved organic chemistry."

Intern: "Oh, well that's good. You also have to take biology--"

Me: "Yep, I've taken it."

She didn't realize I was a transfer student, so she ASSumed I didn't know what I was getting myself into (and apparently she also thought I hadn't looked into what classes I would need to take?). Silly girl. I guess a friend of hers is in her sophomore year of one of the engineering programs, and engineering has proven to be too difficult, so she's transferring. To psychology.

I have less than a semester's worth of classes to finish before I'll be considered a junior. I've chosen engineering *because* it's difficult. I don't want to graduate with a degree that I didn't have to work hard at to receive. I know not all young people are like this, but that kind of attitude really irritates me... It amazes me how people think it's a good idea to choose a degree that won't challenge them, and then expect to get a $100k job with it.