How many of you have been looked down upon for your choice of major? Or laughed at when you were said to be “lazy” or “foolish” because you majored in something artsy or something different from the norm? Or constantly told that your major would never lead to a well-paying job? I can say that I have been there, but I still freakin’ love my major.
When I first came to college four years ago, the only thing I knew was that I wanted to do something fun with my life and follow my passion, which is what led me to choose to major in fashion merchandising and design. Of course, choosing to major in something outside of the norm does not come without a lot of flack and criticism, as I would soon find out.
Here are a few of my absolute favorite phrases I’ve been told while I’ve been in school:1. Why do you even go to school?
Oh, so you’re saying that my major is so easy that I don’t even need to go to school to be able to do it? Then why did I choose to come to the #7 ranked school in the U.S. for fashion merchandising and design? Obviously I must be learning something if my school is ranked in the top 10 nationwide. And the same goes with every other major; we are all here for the same reason, which is to get an education. No matter what our major is, we each worked hard and put in the time and commitment to get to where we are today.
2. You must have life so easy.
The amount of times I hear the phrase, “Oh you’re a fashion major? You must have life so easy” makes me sick. The people who make comments like this don’t realize the time commitment that comes with it, or the multiple all-nighters I force myself to take each week in order to finish a project on time. I have had to make numerous sacrifices throughout my college years of my sleep, my health, and my social life because of the major I chose. Why do I do this to myself, you ask? Because it is my passion. So next time, when you're about to say that my life is “so easy," just don't. You're wrong.
3. You’ll never get paid well with that degree.
This may come as a bit of a shock, but sometimes, it's not all about the money. Sure, I won’t become the richest person in the world, but at least I’ll be able to live comfortably and know that I love my job. If you go into school thinking that money and being paid well is the most important thing, you are in for a rude awakening one day when you wake up and realize that you are unhappy. At least I’ll never have to worry about that because I chose something that I enjoy doing.
4. Your major is a joke.
This is probably the comment that ticks me off the most, because who are you to judge? This is a prime example of how close-minded some people still are. We can’t all be doctors or scientists, and why would we want to? But if being a doctor or scientist is your passion, go for it! If being a fashion designer or teacher is your passion, go for it! We should not be shaming others and making them feel dumb based on what career path they choose. Your major is not a joke if it is your passion, and don’t allow anyone else to tell you otherwise.
Even though constantly being spoken to with such criticism regarding my major makes me annoyed beyond words, I choose to use it as my motivation. It makes me want to work even harder to prove them wrong. I want to show them that I can be just as successful, while still being able to do something that I love.
