As a humanities/social sciences major, I've heard it all. I've gotten support and a fair share of "helpful advice," much of it neither helpful nor good advice, and much of it from people whom I did not ask to share their opinion about my major choice. I'm incredibly grateful to the people who have supported me along the way, and to the people who haven't, could you kindly refrain from saying these twelve things below, as they are specifically annoying.
1. Wait, can you explain what exactly is is that you actually study?
Even if I've already explained it, twice.
2. Can you do anything with that?
No, there is not a single job that accepts people outside STEM majors. Guess I'm straight outta luck.
3. Well, you always have time to change your major.
What if I told you that I actually don't want to do that, and that's why I picked it in the first place.
4. You need to make sure you study something that looks good on your resume if you want to get a job
Actually, shocking as it may sound, Electrical Engineering isn't really a requirement for journalists. Different jobs will accept students with a different set of majors
5. Are you really sure that's what you want to study?
Yup, and I was the last time you asked me that, too
6. Have you considered finance?
Have you considered minding your own business?
7. I guess you'll have to go to grad school if you want to do anything with your life.
Why do you say "grad school" like it's the plague?
8. OMG, I totally have a friend at X school who does that!
I get it, it's not a popular major choice.
9. How do your parents feel about that?
Funny you should ask, but they actually said any kid of theirs who didn't become the top surgeon in the galaxy (other planets included) was no child of theirs, and there's three of us and only one top surgeon, so I guess two of us had to go anyways.
10. I bet you're gonna work at Starbucks when you graduate.
At least, I'll get free coffee.
11. Why are you wasting your time with that?
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time (this quote is attributed to several people, but all of them know what's up).
But for real, not everyone can be a scientist. Some of us have to do the rest of the jobs in the world, and I'm learning to do one of those things.
12. It's your life, I guess…
It is my life actually, which is why I chose my major instead of letting you choose it for me. I love my major, it makes me really happy, which is a pretty good thing to have in my life.
