1. “That’s cool! Wait…what’s CSD?”
Well for starters, it's not your run-of-the-mill marketing, education or political science major. Actually, it has nothing to do with any of those "basic*" majors. By studying communication sciences and disorders, I’ll be the one telling you on your 80th birthday that yes, it’s finally time to get a hearing aid. Not only will you need a hearing aid, but you’ll also need to stop saying that you are just ‘ignoring your wife.’ Let’s face it – she doesn’t want to listen to your bullshit either, but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.
2. “I took a communications class once!”
That’s funny because I haven’t taken a single communications class and yet, I still plan to graduate on time without having to take one. While you’re learning about networking and public relations, I’ll have fun learning about hearing impairments and helping little children with speech impediments.
3. “Is that like communications and PR?”
Let me give you a hint: Do mass media in America and cochlear implants sound like the same thing? No, I didn’t think so either. Just for future reference, CSD has absolutely nothing to do with communications and PR. So, before you ask someone if the two are related, you might want to think twice. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not putting down those who study these majors and other related fields. However, answering the same question over and over isn’t exactly ideal, especially when asked this question multiple times in a day.
4. “So like, that means you’ll work with the elderly some day, right?”
On the one hand, I definitely can work with them and help them with hearing and speech impairments. On the other hand, however, majoring in CSD does not necessarily entail that working with the elderly is my only option. I can work with people of any age, shape and size. Ideally, I’d like to work with young children because living five minutes away from my grandparents is enough to handle in itself. On that note, I love working with kids because they always keep it real and make me laugh without even trying to. As Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
5. “Newhouse is such a great school!”
Granted that I go to Syracuse University, telling people I study communication sciences and disorders automatically leads them to believe that I’m in the one and only S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Contrary to popular belief, I’m actually in the College of Arts and Sciences and I’m damn proud of it. Yes, Newhouse is an incredible school within the university, but as a CSD major, I have no affiliation with it. This goes for all CSD majors as well – just because we study Communication Sciences and Disorders, does not mean we are associated with our respective communication schools. (Although, I do have to admit that Food.com in Newhouse holds a special place in my heart. Whether it be for my daily coffee fix or a mid-day snack during finals week, I know I can count on Food.com to be there for me). Regardless, I'll stick to learning about how your new Beats headphones are ruining your ears over writing a script any day.
So, the next time you find yourself chatting with a CSD major, think twice before you jump the gun and ask him or her ignorant questions. With all the speaking and hearing impairments we deal with, the least you could do is hear us out.
