I have been spouting off for over two decades in my general education (GE) courses that learning STEM helps students increase their earning potential, well-roundedness, and satisfaction from knowing things beyond their common sense. Unfortunately, these arguments have been falling on deaf ears since the pandemic began. Although deeply depressing and seemingly unrelatable for many college students, my post-COVID teaching experience confirms that discussing how to ward off dementia in later life by taking education seriously in one’s 20s strikes a chord with GE students and motivates them to do well in the course.
