Since Meg Walker decided to take my quotes out of context, I feel I should clarify my opinion stated in her article (“Study shows women likely to ditch degrees for family,” Nov. 16).

First, I am truly embarrassed by the way I was portrayed in the article. It made me sound like a snobby Paris Hilton-wannabe just putting in time until graduation, after which I’ll hang my diploma up on the wall and kick back for the rest of my life.

This is simply not the case.

I have worked very hard here at Northeastern, having the chance to complete two co-ops and several internships that have given me an exceptional amount of professional experience, experience I plan to use after graduation. While some of my statements were obviously “tongue-in-cheek” jokes, they were not depicted as such.

Obviously Ms. Walker already had in mind what direction the article was going in before she asked for quotes. As a journalism major, I probably should have been aware my input may be used in a story portraying women who want to follow traditional family roles as wasting time and money earning a college degree.

Then again, I had faith Northeastern’s budding journalists have learned to be unbiased in their reporting.

My second point is about the topic of the article. In this case I stand by what I said. I don’t want to have to work for money, but rather work to do something I enjoy (here’s the part Ms. Walker left out) like philanthropy or do one of my hobbies, photography, full time.

People often take on professions for income rather than pursuing their passions. I was a part-time swim coach when I was in high school. It was by far the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. It required no college degree.

I would love to do something like that for the rest of my life and not have to worry about only making $7.50 an hour.

Many people, men and women, want to stay at home and raise their families as their full-time job. There is nothing wrong with that, nor is there anything wrong with getting a college education for your own well-being.

Just because you don’t “use” your degree doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Many people earn degrees in majors they don’t go into after graduation.

It is a difficult decision whether to continue your career or stay at home when you have children. No one should pass judgment on the decisions other people make for their families.

So, no, I do not want to use my degree as a “source of distraction” but rather to be an educated member of society, contributing in any way I can, including raising a healthy family if that’s my choice.

I don’t know what I’ll do after I graduate. Maybe I’ll work full-time, or perhaps someday I’ll become a stay-at-home mom or maybe I’ll win Powerball and really be able to do nothing for the rest of my life.

Who knows? At least I’ll have that choice because I have my degree, you know, to “fall back on.”

– Stephanie Cappuccio is a senior journalism major.