Dear English majors,
First of all, let me applaud you for not being afraid to follow your passion in a world that wants to squash it. We all know the struggle. From those who think the only worthwhile job you can get is being a teacher to others telling you that you will never be successful. "Why don't you choose one of the most useful majors like science and math?" I'm sorry, but unless you want some catastrophic explosion from some chemical reaction, don't tell me to do something that will only end in failure.
In all seriousness, don't be afraid to pursue what you love, whether that be writing, publishing or even teaching. While there are a handful of skeptics, there are plenty who have managed to become successful like Stephen King, Jody Foster and Conan O'Brien. No one is going to be successful right off the bat, so be patient and confident in what you want to do; it may not happen right away, but good things come to those who wait. There are multiple jobs that you can get with an English major: a journalist, copy editor, research assistant or advertising. While you may have a passion for either writing or literature, do not limit yourself to the possibilities you have with an English major.
If teaching is what you really want to go for, don't be afraid to go for it. While it seems that local state governments are trying to cut the number of teachers per school, they can't get get rid of every teacher. There is a great need for teachers in poorer communities where they are lacking.
What you are probably thinking now is "well this sounds great and all but how much money am I likely to make? Those don't sound like high paying jobs compared to being the manager of a corporation?" This is a common misconception held by many English majors alike. According to the National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimate report from 2014, English majors can make anywhere between $32,970 and $133,470 annually depending on the job you choose and the college you attend. These wages can also be negotiated and changed based on your bargaining skills and your hard work.
So now that you know that you have many different job options available to you, that these jobs are actually well-paying jobs and that there have been numerous of others who have been successful, there is nothing to stop you from achieving your dream while still being successful. There are going to many people in your life who are going to give you funny looks when you tell them that you are majoring in English or try to convince you to consider a higher paying major, but just know that as an English major you have a lot of options job-wise available to you, and know that as an English major you can be guaranteed a job that pays well.
Sincerely,
A Fellow English major
