When people ask kids, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" they're half expecting some silly answer like a princess, or a rock star. But as the kids get older, and begin college, the old question of, "what you want to be when you grow up?" turns to, "Communication? What can you do with that?" And let me just tell you, the follow-up questions don't get any easier, or less annoying, as time goes on.
1. "Isn't that like so you can speak to people?"
No, that would be public speaking. Please stop asking me this.
2. "Why is that a major? Talking to people is so easy!"
1. That is not what Communications is, and 2. You're literally stupid. Stop talking to me.
3. "You picked that major because it's easier than a nursing program"
No, I really didn't and while my fellow nursing students are amazing and incredibly smart, this does not mean we do less work than them. All college majors and degrees are equally hard to pass, or else it wouldn't be a college program. Please understand this.
4. "What jobs can you even get with that kind of degree?"
Literally, anything I want, Susan. I can go into management, marketing, advertising, event planning, and a boatload of other high paying professions, so back off.
5. "You picked that major so you can focus on partying all the time"
My completely full schedule and 0 plans to party beg to differ.
6. "That shouldn't take four years to complete!"
Actually, it should, and can take longer if you go to graduate school. So, yeah, it's a Bachelor's. Not an Associate's.
7. "Can't you just learn that on the job?"
And what job would train me to do literally everything I'm in school for, exactly? And what reputable, "big people" jobs hire people without college educations? This isn't the 1980's, Martha.
8. "I heard people with those degrees don't make a lot. You're wasting your time"
Actually, there are plenty of well paying jobs you can snag with a Bachelor's in Communication degree. They range anywhere from $40,000-100,000+ depending on the area.
9. "Why didn't you want to be a doctor?"
Because maybe blood makes me pass out, I hate seeing parts of the body that are supposed to be kept on the inside of our bodies, and because not everyone in America needs to be a freaking nurse or doctor, okay?!
10. "Why are you so stressed, that looks so easy?"
Because it's not, but I'll gladly let you write this fifteen-page advertising campaign, filled with time-consuming, analyzed data and see if you're still standing by the end of it.
11. "If you don't like talking to people, why are you a Communications major?"
Because, talking to people in general is exhausting, and especially if you're an introvert like me, you find it hard to hold a conversation without a focus topic. Being PAID to talk to people and organize data, plan events and using the creative side of my brain are ALL parts of Communications, and that's why I chose it.
At the end of the day, and after all these dumb questions, I still stand by my decision to be a Communications major, and you should, too. It takes a special type of person to do what we do.
