Humanities vs. STEM: problems vs. exploration
Stem classes are all about solving problems. The humanities are more about history, thinking, connections. At least from my exposure.
This sets up a precedent for stem people to view everything as a problem to be solved, and I think this is making me unhappy in life. I happen to be better at math or science than reading and writing right now (maybe, I don't really know). Maybe it's because of my track in school, so actually I don't know. But now I see a lot of things in my life as problems to be solved, as opposed to ideas to explore or a history to learn.
I really don't like this mindset. It's gotten to the point where my whole life is currently outlined in my head as branching possibilities to be optimized.
I'm scared of not solving problems. In school and at work that means a bad grade, a firing.
What career path, which goals, where to live, how to think about thinking, and so on. Yes I do touch grass, as the commenters have pointed out, probably not enough though, another sad trait/stereotype of stem.
I think a lot of people have been so brainwashed into praising the all-mighty stem world from an early age, starting in middle or probably elementary school nowadays. I never got a liberal arts education so I can't say if it's all fluff or not, but at least a standard history, sociology, English, or political science degree seems much more exploratory and creative than most stem degrees. Yes, I know stem research and problem-solving is highly creative, but not in the same way. And I know kids choose stem majors at 18 -- 7 years before they fully develop their frontal cortexes -- so they can find a better job. Still.
I guess I'd rather be an explorer for a while. Or maybe forever.