Everyone thinks their major is the best. However, every major comes with its pros and cons. Sometimes it's hard to tell if all of the pain and hard work will be worth it in the end, but those little things keep you going. English has its struggles; from all the essays, to the time and effort it requires. But being able to learn more about literature and grammar and fueling your love and passion for reading and writing makes every second of the work worth it.
1. Your most repeated phrase is "I can't. I have to write an essay."
People still haven't caught on to the fact that you're typically going to have an essay due every Monday. And there's a pretty good chance that you've known about it for a few days, but you're going to wait until Sunday to write it. So if anyone asks you to hang out, they're probably going to have this answer shot at them. Even if that time is mostly spent staring at a blank Word document or watching "Orange is the New Black."
2. You can't watch a movie without looking for underlying themes, motifs, and foreshadowing.
You can't watch "Frozen" without trying to explain the fact that it seems like her ice powers are a metaphor for mental illness and your friends are sick of you whispering, "That's foreshadowing..." as your way of spoiling the movie. Pretty soon people are going to stop inviting you to watch movies with them. But that's okay, you probably have an essay to write anyways.
3. You actually enjoy all the reading assignments.
While any ordinary student would be complaining about having to read eight books of the Odyssey in two days, you're excited! You get to spend hours in your bed or enjoying a nice breeze outside while reading about Odysseus' adventures. As Dr. Seuss says, "Reading can take you places you've never been before." Every new assignment is another world you can go to. Who needs to travel when you have books?!
4. The library is your second home.
Whether you need to read, do research, or pump out that essay you still haven't started, the library is your go-to place. The librarians know you by name and suggest new books to you. You have the filing system down better than any of the actual employees and they have to kick you out at closing.
5. You edit all of your friends' papers.
And you actually enjoy it. Whether they're struggling with content, hitting a page limit, or even just grammar, you're their first resource. They all know they can rely on you to bring that B up to an A with just a few clacks on your keyboard and they'll get a whole other insight they never even asked for.
5. You're probably developing carpal tunnel.
All that typing on a keyboard isn't going to go unpunished and your wrists are going to take it all. After the fifth page of that essay, your wrists are going to start feeling like fire is flowing through them and the end doesn't seem anywhere in sight. And chances are, halfway through your free response exam about the themes in To Kill a Mockingbird, your hand feels like it's going to fall off. But on the bright side, you can probably type at about eighty words per minute!
6. People think you can't do anything with your major.
As soon as you tell someone you're an English major they either give you the look of pity or ask if you're going to teach. But in reality, there are so many things you can do with your degree! From journalism, to editing, to marketing, English majors can really do anything they want.
7. Books are your friends.
You read books so often that the characters become your friends! You go on adventures with them and are just as devastated to see them go as you would be if they were real. It doesn't help that you probably spend more time with them than your real friends. After all, you do have that essay you told them you'd be doing.
8. You're permanently labeled as the Grammar Nazi.
You can't help it! You've been training for this moment! It's programmed into your brain to constantly use perfect grammar and spelling at all times. So when someone says they "did good" on their test, you cringe and try to hold back the correction. And don't get you started on there, their, they're...
9. It feels like you've run out of books to read.
Until you find a new one... But even then, you still read your favorites over and over. Your favorite book is probably highlighted, annotated, and falling apart. Which means you can probably recite it from memory. But that won't stop you from reading it again the next time you're waiting for the library to order new books.
10. You're a firm believer that the movie is NEVER as good as the book.
Whenever someone tells you about a movie they just saw, the first thing you say is, "But have you read the book??" Something about the way the story comes alive in your head will always be better than the way it is depicted on the screen. Plus, nothing ever turns out exactly the way you thought it would and things are left out. The movies just can't compare!
11. You love your major almost as much as you love reading and writing.
Having an excuse to HAVE to read and write nearly every day is the best part about your major. You get to be with people who actually understand you when you talk about Shakespeare and discuss the newest book you're reading. Most importantly, you love every second of writing that essay you blew off your friends for, hand cramps and all!
