Imagine this: you're sitting around the dining room table, surrounded by your family and friends. Cousin Donnie is bragging about how well his accounting firm is doing this tax season. Aunt Martha is beaming over her daughter's second place gymnastics trophy. And your little brother, well he's just learned to not stick his finger up his nose. Everyone is happy and doing well, until the conversation turns to you: the liberal arts major.
You know what's coming: an endless series of questions aimed at gathering exactly why it was that you chose a liberal arts program.
If you're reading this and you love someone who is a liberal arts major, listen up. The following statements are often seen as inconsiderate and rude to your artsy loved ones. Here are some things we are just frankly tired of hearing.
1. "What exactly can you do with your degree?"
I can hear the snark in your voice. There are tons of jobs available for liberal arts majors, thank you very much. We can be designers, writers, illustrators, producers. Just because we aren't training for a specific career, it doesn't mean that we can't do anything we set our minds to.
2. "Your GPA must be through the roof."
Sure, the majority of our classes aren't math or science related. But it doesn't mean that we don't work our butts off in the classes we are taking. Some of the toughest classes we take are within our major, with professors who expect nothing less of perfection. The pressure is real.
3. "So you're majoring in unemployment?"
You may think your joke is clever and cute, but in reality, it's just obnoxious. Yes, I understand that my future career isn't going to pay as much as a surgeon or a scientist. But if I wanted to go into a science field, I would have been a science major. I chose this. Working in a career where I can create and have fun is more important to me than a huge paycheck.
4. "What's your backup plan?"
Seriously? We've been over this. I don't need a backup plan. My degree and my passions can pay the bills. It may be a struggle, but isn't everything in life? Stop acting like my struggle is less dignified because of what I'm studying.
5. "What grade do you plan on teaching?"
Assuming that I'm going to teach because I have a liberal arts degree is insulting to the education system as a whole. What you're basically saying is that anyone can teach. Some of my best friends are education majors, and they are the most hardworking individuals out there. It takes a special, patient, caring person to teach. While some liberal arts majors may take that route, I know for sure that I couldn't even attempt to wrangle a class full of children.
Seriously, guys. If you love us, please stop with the pretentious talk about our majors. We chose this. We knew what we were getting into. And most importantly, we love every minute of it. Just be happy for us.
