It's hard to imagine undertaking a maths degree without imagining a plain, dimly lit lecture hall full of nerdy adolescents with poor hygiene and no social skills.
I can't remember the last time I saw a mathematician in film or television who wasn't portrayed as some nice but boring loner, who'd chosen numbers over friends (because obviously you can't have friends and be good at maths).
Imagine my surprise when I walked into my first lecture in mathematics to discover a room full of excited and interesting students, all from different walks of life, and with what most people would consider an acceptable level of hygiene. The reason I was surprised is that I, like so many others before me, had believed the lie that maths is a subject by geeks and for geeks. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have just finished my second year of my mathematics degree, and I have found both my lecturers and my classmates to be people with a keen interest in current events, who are fascinated by the political and social world around them. In fact, an understanding of maths has helped me to better understand aspects of sport, elections, the economy, and other areas that are becoming increasingly important in the modern world.
We live in an unpredictable environment and, because of this, a solid qualification is crucial for a future in which an exciting job can be confirmed. Whilst all degrees are interesting in their own right, few degrees offer the international respect and recognition that maths does. It is the language of music, the language of nature, the language of everything. It gives us huge insight into fields that, otherwise, we would be completely clueless about.
This means that three years of studying maths at an advanced level is rewarding, and guarantees a bright and happy future. There are many people who will shun a maths degree, and I've had countless debates with friends and relatives as they try to convince me that I should be doing a degree in history, drama, politics... the list goes on. But those of us who can apply our minds to work mathematically know that we have an ability that few have, and that many envy.