“So, like, do you want to be a teacher?”

How annoying is that question? One of the most irritating things about pursuing a major in English Literature is the lack of knowledge that surrounds it, and there is a stigma that an English degree will lead you to become a teacher or nothing at all (which is just flat out wrong). By pursuing an English degree, you are opening the window of opportunity and will find that this major has a lot of perks to it.

So if you’re an undecided major, or if you’re on the fence about pursuing a degree in English, you clicked on the right article! Here are 10 reasons why becoming an English major is the best decision you could make.

1.The career possibilities are literally endless.

Did you know that you have a higher chance of being hired at a law firm if you have a previous degree in English Literature? In fact, it’s the #1 undergraduate major for law school! Nowadays, employers are looking for candidates who have the ability to write well and who know how to make an argument and support it with facts.

And surprise, surprise--English majors are trained to do just that! Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking you can’t do anything with your liberal arts degree--you could very well be the next Elle Woods.

2. You acquire skills that will never lose value.

The ability to read analytically, to write well, and to critically think are skills that are just as important as knowing what 2 plus 2 is. Unfortunately, the world has seen a decline in such skills; however, as an English major you will always be one step ahead and your impressive talents will be very marketable.

3. You can actually string words together to form a coherent email.

Trust me on this, there are way too many people in this world who don’t know the first thing about netiquette and will write a monstrosity of an email. Luckily, you won’t ever be that person who doesn’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re” or “there”, “their”, and “they’re”.

4. Your homework is just having to read.

Presumably, if you’re on the path to becoming an English major you should enjoy reading. So what better homework assignment is there than to just sit and read all day? You don’t have to worry about reading boring textbooks or staying up all night trying to figure out physics equations (Yeah I’m looking at you Engineering majors)--you just get to read and it’s AWESOME.

5. Your professors will be the best people you will ever meet.

English professors are a whole different type of breed, in that, you will never find another group of people who love their students and will do anything to help them succeed than them. They are laid back, funny, and are all very clearly in love with what they do. It definitely makes going to classes not nearly as dreadful.

See also: Being Undeclared Helped Me Admit I'm An English Major

6. Did I mention the career choices?

You never have to worry about being pigeon-holed into a career. You can explore careers in journalism, broadcasting, publishing, editor positions--heck, even actress Emma Watson was an English major and now she’s appointed as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and currently speaks for women’s rights. Whoever said English majors led to “dead-beat jobs” clearly is just jealous that they are stuck in one.

7. The other students in your department are the best.

You will never meet a more entertaining group of people in your lifetime. The students I have met in my department have been the funniest and most inclusive bunch I have ever met, and I could not imagine having classes with anybody else.

8. Public speaking will become just as easy as breathing.

How many of your classes make it a requirement to have at least one (if not more) presentations throughout the semester? Most likely, if you’re not an English major, the only class where you needed to do any form of public speaking was, well, in your Gen. Ed. Public Speaking class.

As an English major, it's not uncommon that you need to stand up in front of your class and present your research, or whether you’re on the Education track or not, have to teach your class and lead discussion. This can be frightening at first, but as you do it more and more, you get more comfortable speaking in front of a large group; a skill that will be extremely helpful in the long run.

9. Your researching skills will be top notch.

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but pursuing an English degree means you’ll have to write papers, and you’ll have to write a lot of them. But good news-you will be able to manifest amazing researching skills that can help you in a future career. Hiring someone who can excel in conducting research is a viable asset, and will help you stand out. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at any job application.

10. Because you want to.

Ultimately, you’ll be doing what you love every single day and there’s nothing better than that.