We've all been there. We've all faced the high and mighty students or teachers studying in other fields who deem it necessary to make cracks about ours.
"You expect to find a job in that?"
"I hope you like not making any money."
"Don't you want to be able to support a family in the future?"
They're all things I've had said to me when I tell people that I'm a journalism major. And this year, I have finally hit my breaking point. It all began when I was sitting in my finance Gen-Ed last week. I'm taking this course because I'm fully aware of how much I suck at saving money, and how much I don't suck at spending tons of it. We were discussing budgeting one day when my professor begins to ask students in the class what their majors are.
" Musical Theater and Dance."
"English."
"Communications."
My professor starts to shake his head and chuckle to himself. "Alright," he says. "I'm not trying to crush anyone's dreams here, but those aren't the easiest jobs to find work in. You know that, right? You should really be considering changing your major to something that will allow you to support yourself, or double-major so that you have something to fall back on."
I roll my eyes from my seat in the last row and try to choke down the anger swelling in my chest. Something about the cocky tone of this businessman-turned-teacher really got under my skin. We don't all want to be in the business world. We don't all want to be nurses or doctors, or lawyers or engineers, or accountants, or in any other field that some say are "easy" to find work in. The world needs dancers and artists and actors and actresses and historians and journalists and authors just as much.
The truth is, no field is easy to find work in. Most, if not all students, have to work their butts off and deal with a lot of nonsense in order to get where they want to be. No job is just given out like candy.
But, it wasn't my first time being subjected to that kind of speech. I've stormed out of rooms as people have gone on about the "death of journalism" and the "mistake" I made by choosing this major. I'll be the first one to admit that, more than once, I've questioned it myself, but everyone does, and I still can't imagine myself doing anything else.
So, don't let anyone tell you your major is worthless, that you need to change it or find a Plan B. Don't let anyone tell you you're wasting money and time on a "useless" degree. Don't apologize for studying what others see as silly or mindless. Don't apologize for taking your own route. Don't let your passion be revoked. You don't need to make anyone but yourself happy.
Most importantly, do NOT (!!!) let anyone make you feel as if you made a mistake by entering your particular field of study. Don't let arrogance change your plans for the future. Stand up for your life.
What would this world be if we all chose the easy way out? What would it mean if we all gave up our dreams of being geologists or anthropologists or painters or composers just to secure more money? It would probably just mean you'd be even more miserable than people think you'll be in your current field.
To all of my fellow journalists, I know people tell us all the time to be enemies since we're all "vying for the same job," but know I am rooting for you. We all know and don't need to be told any further that our field is, for lack of a better word, rough. Yet, my heart breaks for people who've strayed away from this industry because they fear its evolvement. Our industry never seems to stop changing, it's true, but it's the most thrilling industry there is.
So, just let it be known: We're glad you feel secure in your major.
We don't care what you think about ours.
