My 4-year-old daughter and I were playing barbie dream house with her massive collection of barbies one night (no shame) and I was astounded by her creativity.
As she grows older I realize these moments are fleeting, bittersweet. She won’t be the same age forever and the environment and times that I’ve grown up in (the dawn of the internet age), will be wildly different a few decades from now when she’s an independent adult.
As I sat there “pretending” to be the daughter of batwoman and an owner of a giant blue tyrannosaurus rex, I began daydreaming about my daughter’s future and what it possibly could look like.

While there’s a huge push for STEM in America right now (Science Technology, Engineering, Math), I think it’s important to not discount liberal arts and creativity or liberal creativity (a term I just made up, but fitting). As we advance in STEM I even think creativity and arts will be even more imporant.
We’re at the cusp of many great emerging technologies. Quantum computing and its applicaitons are just beginning to blossom. Machine learning and advanced AI systems are being deployed in big businesses. It’s only a matter of time those technologies will be very widespread and available. A lot of human capital in STEM fields won’t be required and will inevitably be replaced by machines.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with STEM education paths or careers. Rather, I’m pointing out that right now there’s a lot of value placed in those fields and not so much in the creative arts.
We’re going to eventually need people who think outside of the box, who think outside the bounds of science and technology. Even bridging the gaps between arts and sciences. Think of the enormously successful technology company Apple and its melding of art and technology.
And if my daughter wants to puruse one of the STEM fields, I’m 100% ok with that and will support her fully. But, if she’d like to be an artist, musician, writer, history major, I more than welcome and support that too. I’m just enjoying my daughter’s sense of wonder and imagination.