I am a senior. I have been for six months now and I will be for another year at this university. I chose to major in English after realizing that no matter what other major I chose, (I jumped from political science, sociology and business) I wouldn’t be happy doing something that I felt forced into. On the day of registration, I abruptly changed my major to English and a semester later I declared my concentration in Professional Writing. I’ve been lucky because I love writing and I love learning about the English language itself. My major has allowed me to broadly study everything from social sciences to history and dabble in foreign languages. I love what I’m studying, but what am I going to do with it after I graduate?
It’s the question we all know too well, no matter what you major in. “What are you doing after college?” My simple answer: probably what I’m already doing, except add paying off my loans to the equation. I don’t have a dream job in my mind. In fact, going to school and studying English as broadly and deeply as I have has made me realize that the only way I really work well as a writer is when it has nothing to do with my obligations. I like jobs that require me to focus on the job only when I’m at work. I like jobs that require my focus on from a set schedule, be that 9-5 or 10-7. I like having time to be a creative fiction writer.
Just because I don’t plan to get a job in my field after I graduate doesn’t mean the money I invested in my degree was a waste (no degree is a waste). I learned so much about my field of study and more. If I ever feel like getting back into it, I can and I feel capable enough to do so. Studying English has allowed me to discover a passion I had for education that I never even found possible. If one day I choose to pursue alternative certification for education, I can because I have my English degree. If I want to continue my education and pursue a graduate degree or graduate certification, I can do that all because I’m going to finish with a bachelor's degree in a field that I really love and can see myself in for the rest of my life. If I want to keep my job in customer service, I can and that’s not a waste of money.
Doing what makes you happy is not a waste of money. I have worked hard to earn my degree; sleepless nights and long hours camped out in the library. I have quite literally worked for my degree; three jobs and missing out on social activities just to make tuition and it’s OK. I am OK with all of it because I did what I wanted to do. Higher education is a privilege and it’s a privilege I wish everyone had access to because it changes your life and the way you see things for the better. Education is worth all the work, sweat and tears put into it.
I don’t know what I’m doing after college and that’s OK. I’m in no hurry to figure it out at this point. This will be my fourth year in college and I’m trying to just enjoy the time I have left on this campus. I’ll worry about my future the day after I cross that stage. For now I’ll just focus on the next assignment deadline and what I’m going to have for lunch.
