More than most others, it's always seemed to me that English Majors (no matter what school they go to) are frequently given a hard time over their chosen educational path. In my personal life, I've heard my fair share of "So you're going to be a barista?" or "Why are you wasting your time?" jokes and comments, making me out to be some kind of foolish Millenial who "has no aspirations". As you might have guessed, these reactions are a major source of frustration for me, and I know others often feel the same way. The funny thing about all of this, however, is just how beneficial the education an English Major experiences is for life in general.
More than half my classes have had some kind of focus on history or culture, introducing me to certain ideas and ways of thinking I'd never experienced prior to college. I've taken two different American Literature classes, a class on Western Literature, African Literature, African American Literature, and several workshops full of people expressing their honest beliefs, opinions, and identities through writing. These kinds of classes have given me insight into different ideas and cultures that I never had before. In the case of my African Literature class, for example, created a passion in me for the negative effects of colonialism and imperialism (of which there are many) as well as how African nations suffer at the hands of Western greed. This clarity has made me feel more strongly in my political and social ideals as well as more passionate in my desire to make the world a better place. I doubt I would have had a similar experience in most other educational pathways.
In a similar manner, my education has completely heightened my enjoyment of all the things I already loved: Film, literature, video games, comic books, etc., making my daily life itself more enjoyable. My Film Interpretation class gave me the knowledge and understanding to better discuss film and what I like (or don't like) in the medium in general. I also just finished up a Studies in the Detective Novel class that gave me insight into many of the common tropes and ideas repeated in fiction today, giving me a greater appreciation for such things.
Lastly, but perhaps the most stereotypically important, is that when people know you're an English Major, they're more likely to come to you with opportunities the otherwise would not have. They may come to you in search of technical help, like editing or letters of recommendation, or, like what I've experienced, they may come to you in search of creative endeavors that they may be willing to pay you for. For example, my RA my freshman year came to me because he wanted me to write a poem to accompany a tattoo idea he had. I, of course, was flattered, and I would have never had such an opportunity if I was, say, an Engineering Major.
As one can see, there's more to studying English than just reading novels or writing papers all day. This path has helped me feel more fulfilled in most aspects of my life and made me more readily able to discuss those things at a higher level. Quite similarly a heightened vocabulary and bank of ideas gained by this education has allowed better think about and discuss any number of things, helping me contribute to the people and world around me.
