One of the creators here on the Concordia College New York Odyssey team wrote an article last week entitled "My Reasons for Being an English Major." I read his article thoroughly (and not just because I was editing it) and found that I was really moved by it. I am a senior in college, I am an English major, and I have a steady plan of what I would like to do once I graduate college. Yet I wasn't always so confident with what I wanted to do and that is understandable. How are any of us supposed to pick a major that will teach us a subject that will eventually lead us our careers? How can anyone make such a major decision straight out of high school. If you make the wrong choice you, you could be unhappy for the rest of your life. That is why it is so important to pick a major you love because this is your life we are talking about.
I went into college not knowing what I wanted to do. I was terrified I would never find out what exactly I could do. I was away from my friends and surrounded in a world where I didn't know or understand yet. The rules change when you go to college. I remember taking every class possible, trying to see what caught my interest. Business? No, I did not have the skills one needed to be successful in Business. Art? I couldn't draw to save my life. Math wasn't even an option with my less than stellar record in high school. I didn't want to do nursing or anything with biology. And then I realized, I was running out of time.
When we had to go to choose our area of study, I was always undecided. It wasn't until I went in to talk to my advisor that something finally clicked. I told my advisor, "I'm interested in English, but I don't know if I'm gonna be able to make something of that degree, what kind of job could I get, what kind of future could I have?"
He looked at me, laughed and said, "I'm going to tell you how my colleague answers that question. Whenever she is asked what can you do with a degree in English she says, whatever the hell you want." He laughed again and then listed the options, editor, professor and many other options. All of a sudden, I finally felt like I could breathe. English. I wanted to get a degree in English. I would study the books I fell in love with and see them through various perspectives and have deep conversations about why literature changes the world.
It has been three years and I don't regret choosing my major. I know that I might struggle, but at the end of the day I am doing what I love. The possibilities are endless. Choosing to do what you love matters so much because it is that passion and drive that help you to pour your soul into your work and help you to change the world. So forget the stress and choose wisely.
