Being an English major is a very unique experience, as I am sure every major is. My journey with this crazy, book-filled, coffee-fueled program has been a weird one, due to the fact that I entered knowing I wanted it and I still want it, but I have lost some of the momentum I had. If I am being honest, it doesn't feel so LIT (haha. I know. That was not a very funny joke).
I declared my major with certainty and declared my minor in journalism almost as quick. I had been sure of my study plan since seventh grade. I knew I eventually wanted to end up working for The New York Times. Now, I am not even sure I have the motivation to READ The New York Times most of the time.
I have gotten used to explaining my major, specifying, telling people "No, I do not want to become a teacher" and "Yes, I really MUST like to read" over and over until my jaw hurts from smiling so much. I respect the teachers I had, my professors, every person who has asked me if I want to become a teacher. Heck, a few times I've even considered saying yes because I do not know what I want. It wouldn't make me any less.
But that isn't the point. The point is, my fellow English major, that this program is strange. We have a lot of flexibility and we can go into a lot of programs. We can go into public relations, journalism, teaching, writing web content, working for an advertising firm, or go on to law school. We are one of the most versatile majors there is. We BELONG, just like every other major.
We may have to fend off the occasional mechanical engineering major who tells us casually how easy we have it because we aren't in lab for four hours, but we BELONG. And for the record, we still have to take a lab to get through our program, and we'll be writing their press releases and correcting their reports. They'll thank us later.
I know for certain you are going to question yourself. You're going to wonder why you're reading so much, writing so much, SLEEPING SO LITTLE to balance work, life, friends, and oh, right, coming up with your most "English major" appropriate answers for why everything means something in that poem you're reading (and as you know, there are symbols in everything, and saying ANY of them could probably get you class credit). You've gotten used to thinking on your feet and planning ahead and regurgitating information like it is your business. We're business majors of a different caliber, forensics students and criminal justice advocates with every twentieth-century, dated, complicated novel and essay we read.
I am a fraud every day. I sit beside men and women who spout Shakespeare and explain meanings behind things I didn't even SORT OF understand. I haven't read most of the classics all of my professors reference. I am learning and growing every day. And so are you.
You are going to be just fine. We are going to be just fine.