“I’m an English major.”
Every single time I say these words, the room goes silent. My relatives give me funny looks, my friends raise an eyebrow and I hear the same retort:
“Why would you major in English? What a useless degree. You’ll never get a job!”
Except that my degree is anything but useless.
I can certainly see why people would claim my major is becoming obsolete. If we all know English, there’s no need to dedicate your time to study it, right? If we all know English, we should focus on learning something new, right?
However, knowing proper English is an imperative tool for anyone who wants a job in the future. If you do not know the difference between “your” and “you’re”, I can assure you your future boss will think you’re a moron (also I just used those words correctly for you, in case you didn’t know). The same goes if you are unable to construct a complex sentence, or form a grammatically correct one at that.
Majoring in English at college teaches you to be both an exceptional writer and a proficient reader. After all, writing has never gone out of style. For as long as there has been spoken language, there has been some form of written communication with it (hieroglyphics are a prime example). If you are able to write well, future employers will truly appreciate it. If you study English, you will also have a chance to competently analyze texts; and, if you can read something without getting confused, you will only have more power in the working industry.
In addition, the English major is not a “jobless” one. In the English field alone, you can be a writer, a publisher, a copy editor, librarian, or anything of the sort. Outside of those, nearly any job that requires great communication or analytical-thinking skills can be filled by someone who has majored in English.
As for focusing on learning “new” information, English is always changing. If it wasn’t, our texting acronyms (LOL, BRB, etc.) would not exist. Words and phrases such as “swerve” and “on fleek” would not have been created. English is never stagnant; it is always growing and modifying itself to fit the times.
Most importantly, some of us actually have a passion for learning about the English language. If someone wants to study Biology and become a doctor, or study Math and become a teacher, no one ever judges them. So, if I want to study English and become a writer, an editor, or a publisher, why am I ridiculed for it? If everyone else can follow their dreams, then what’s so wrong with following mine?
I’m not trying to say my major is more important than any other, but it is certainly not worthless. I have a strong desire to study the written word. I want to know how to analyze literature. I love writing stories, poems and, yes, even essays. So while everyone else might see my major as an impractical one, I can assure you that to me, it is completely worthwhile.
