So, you finally declared. Welcome to the world of books, writing, writing about books, and caffeine overdoses that you will be stuck in for the remainder of your college time, if not forever. We can be spotted from a mile away, and our minds are constantly going, the gears turning with endless ideas. We don’t all wear cardigans and have a laptop with us at all times or anything, and yet we all have one thing in common: We’re English majors.
With that said, here’s what we get sick of hearing from people who didn't decide to take the plunge into the world of words that we did.
1. "Are you silently judging my grammar?"
Oh, yes. I am. I see when you use the wrong form of your/you're when you text me. (They're/their and there, too!) I cringe when that happens. If I'm comfortable enough with you, I'll correct you on the spot. Sorry, just a habit. A terrible, annoying habit.
2. "So... You want to teach English, then?"
Let me begin this one by saying that if you want to teach, great! More power to you. I've had some incredible English professors/teachers who started out as English majors in college with that being their end goal, so it happens. With that said, the majority of us don't want to teach. We want to be an editor, a writer, a journalist... We don't want to teach. Sorry to disappoint you.
3. "You're so lucky! You don't have to take math/science/whatever else!"
Um. I took prerequisites before declaring, didn't I? I had to sit through algebra, chemistry, and biology labs, too. I did my time. I didn't avoid those courses by choosing to write and read all the time as part of my major. Your choice to take Calculus was just that: your choice. I didn't skip it; I chose not to have a major that involved it. (If you hate math/science, join the English major side. We have Insomnia Cookie and coffee.)
4. "This means that you can write my papers!" *insert "fake" laugh here*
Okay, one: You aren't sly. I know you aren't joking. Two: Absolutely not. You're on your own. Not sorry.
5. "Why English?"
I know you aren't asking because you're genuinely curious. You're asking because you want to hear what I have to say before you tear me down and tell me that I'll never be able to do anything with an English degree. You'll worry about my financial situation and my future even though it's none of your business. Honestly, I'll worry sometimes, too. But even then, that does not sway my answer to this question: I'm an English major because I love to read and write.
Being an English major isn't all books and coffee. It's so much more, and until you realize that, your questions to me carry no weight. There's something amazing about it, like the moments when you get a good word from a professor on a piece you spent hours on, or when inspiration strikes at the best time.
There's nothing like being an English major.
