There tends to be a negative stigma when you tell someone that you are an English major. They either think you are in a “blow off” program, or that you secretly judge the way they speak. Or even worse, they label you as a future McDonald’s employee. That is not the case at all: English majors are trained to be successful, critical thinkers that will shape the world in a positive image.
“English is not a real major.”
It is just as real as any person majoring in business, pre-med, or sociology. Just as with any major, you take easy courses and difficult ones. The work you put in is what you will get out of it. As with anything, you can both work hard and become passionate about your studies, or you could live life in the backseat, cruising through your studies. The choice is up to you. You are in college for four years to gain knowledge so that you can one day positively contribute to society. The classes we take may be different from biology or chemistry, but they still serve a purpose: to teach critical thinking, analytical skills, and to better to better communicate ideas. At the end of the day, we all with have an overpriced sheet of paper saying “Bachelor of Science” or “Bachelor of the Arts.”
“You will never find a good job with that degree.”
Last time I checked, unemployment did not specifically target those with a liberal arts degree. Graduation is scary, regardless of major. Having a degree in English does not mean you have to be the next Steven King to make a living; the career field is limitless. Almost every job demands creative thinkers, strong communicators, and decent writing skills. The major may be underestimated by those who are not English majors, but the skill set required to succeed in the program can be applied to any career field.
“Oh, so you want to be a teacher?”
NO. Teaching is not the only career choice for English majors. Frankly, it would be frightening to see myself working in a room full of children every day. I have as many career options as someone with a Biology major. Your college major does not predetermine your fate for eternity.
“Are you quietly judging my grammar?”
Well, that all depends on the grammar: I mean this may happen, but we’ll still be friends. I am not your 5th English teacher, but if you Tweet “your” instead of “you’re,” my skin might crawl a little.
In all seriousness, I am in my major of choice not for an easy degree; I probably will never teach or write a New York Bestseller’s List novel. No one really has a set-in-stone plan about their future career while in college; I certainly don’t know how I will spend the rest of my life. But what I do know is that English is something I love, and one day I hope to share that passion with the world.
