English majors often receive backlash for their chosen field of study.

As an English major myself, I have been asked, "Why study English? You already speak the language." Responses like this are the reason it is essential to view the study of English from a different angle.

Studying English literature allows us to gain an appreciation for authenticity and creative texts. Literary works stimulate our imagination, bringing us to a world of variable interpretation. As we discover the varied nuances within storylines and character personalities, we gain an appreciation for the diverse qualities of human culture. Studying English in academia introduces you to a variety of literary stories you may not have pursued, or even discovered, on their own.

The way literary discussions are held as open, discursive, provisional and mutable symbolize how our social values should function in our lives. When we deeply engage with a work of literature, our ideas are challenged as we become aware of how others perceive the world. Our mindset constantly expands from new perspectives we are exposed to when we study literature.

Literature is a gateway toward empathy. Literary stories allow us to empathize with mistreated characters. When it comes to distressing topics such as abuse and suicide, statistics alone do not make us empathize with victims; narratives do. Stories give us characters to care about and identify with as they develop. We find parts of ourselves in the characters from the stories we read.

Whether we are reading about Harry Potter's mistreatment by the Dursleys, the abuse of Jane Eyre, or Hannah Baker's descent into depression, when our beloved characters are tormented, we find that we are as well. We cheer when they triumph and cry when they suffer. Eventually, we find ourselves caring about issues that had no personal relation to us. Once we can attach a narrative–a story–to a tragedy, our perspective shifts. It is then that we begin to care.

We cannot read minds. We can only see the world from our point of view. Reading the words of another person is the closest way to reach the mind of someone else. It allows us to experience the world from their perspective. English literature possesses the power to transform the way we view the world. It is filled with stories that need to be heard.

That is why I write: because I have stories to tell. Stories that people need to hear.