Every time I meet someone new, I encounter the dreaded question of "What's your major?" When I answer with "Public Relations." I always get the same confused look with impending judgment. I know I'm not going to school to be a doctor, or an engineer, but that doesn't mean my major is "easy." I don't understand why people look down on communications majors so much. What about communications is so unfavorable? I study really interesting topics like media, how to write effectively, and how to advertise to the public. What about that makes me not as smart in comparison to everyone else?
To everyone whose ever looked down on me for my choice: we as a society are constantly immersed in media. It's everywhere we look; whether it's print media, traditional media, or social media. Everything we read, type, and speak, has a message. All of that is called communications. My major is more than just having a passion for writing. That's where it starts, but not where it ends. I can choose to do crisis management, work for a public relations firm with different clients, formulate messages for businesses, plan media events, do image management, and maybe even work for a politician one day. My opportunities are just as limitless as everybody else's. I think it takes just as much skill to know how to handle people and write to a specific audience, than it does to operate on someone or have a successful business.
The stigma needs to go. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and mine just so happen to be in the English department. I may not be able to do math or science well, but I can decode Shakespeare in one shot, and write an A paper for any class. Believe me, I'm not trying to look down on any other majors. We all have a chance to make an impact on the world, and that's what I'm trying to say here. No one is better than anyone else because of what their interests are. If everyone was good at the same things, wouldn't the world be boring?
To all the fellow majors besides communications that also get looked down upon: don't get discouraged! Everybody has to be passionate and dedicated to their field of study. Besides, going to college should be about what you want to do. Be confident and do what you love, no matter how much money it makes, or if the classes are "difficult" or not. Each subject has their own challenges, and each major takes skill. Whether it's business, nursing, engineering, journalism, etc., we are all talented. Let's try to appreciate each other.
