Funny that isn't it? Encouragement to do what "makes you happy". Arts aren't encouraged at school, generally speaking. They're always the department with the worse funding and the one with the least amount of mandatory contact hours. Most parents would freak out at their child saying they want to to do art or something related. Mine were scared. But I think a lot of people who are into arts also tend to have a different view of what happiness is.

I don't want to make a lot of money, what I want is to work hard enough to become a free lancer or consultant and have freedom to do travel and to persue something I really love. That's happiness to me. Sure there's a risk, but then not every programmer ends up at google doesn't mean they have "failed".

Not even to mention the value that humanity and creative subjects themselves bring to a society. Isn't it incredible to have people who understand and analyse humanity through a lenses that goes beyond science? Not only that but create that too? To me painting something truly beautiful is as impressive as knowing how to erect a building.