"Hello, my name is Kelly Unger and I am currently majoring in English (as well as Public Relations) at The University of Akron."

I have always enjoyed reading and writing, so when I decided on a major when first entering college, my family was almost positive that I would go into English or Creative writing, and were flabbergasted when I declared a major in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology. Yes, the girl that loathed anything to do with science and math had chosen to make a career out just that. However, after just one one year as a Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology major, I caved and declared a major in English. It was more difficult than it sounds.

You see, my love for the arts never included a desire to teach them to others (although I give props to people who do feel that way). Which is where declaring a second major in Public Relations comes into the story. After a year of education within both of these fields, here are my reasons on why you shouldn't rule out earning a degree in ANY of the arts.

1. There is a Need for Professionals in These Fields.

I am constantly hearing jokes about art majors, graphic design majors, philosophy majors, et cetera. It's because of these jokes that I had avoided declaring a major in the arts all together. Society had put the belief in my head that, had I really chosen one of these fields, I would surely be working minimum wage flipping burgers and live in my mother's house for the rest of my life. The only issue with this is, when doctors and scientists talk about having journals and articles published, when scientists want inventions sold and advertised for, when they try to get their medications approved by the FDA, they need editors, journalists, PR representatives, other communication professionals, et cetera to advertise, promote, and/or publish whatever they are trying to do! So when you hear someone say that there are little to no need for professionals in that field, don't take it at face value.

2. Finding a Career is Not as Hard as You May Think.

One of my major concerns when switching majors from Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology to English was that finding a job when I graduated would be difficult. And when I did it would most certainly be in print journalism and be short lived. So I talked to some friends, my advisor, and the career center at my school and declared a second major in Public Relations. When entering college, I had only thought of communications as the area of study that college athletes went into for one of two reasons 1) it was 'easy' and 2) they had dreams of making it to the major leagues and would really need it anyway. When I actually did research and learned more about the fields, I knew that this was a field that I had essentially been preparing myself for since high school. By double majoring and using the FREE resources that my school provides for me, I was introduced to hundreds of new positions and careers that exist in my fields.

3. We Can't All Be Engineers.

Depending on your field, engineers can make A LOT of money, and fast. The thing is, we all can't be great engineers. Sure, if I put a little extra time into studying and less time working on extracurricular projects, I could graduate and possibly be decent at what I do. I care enough about people where I could also be an okay doctor if I wanted to, but would who would you choose if you had the choice between an 'OK' doctor, and one that had been at the top of their class? Not everyone has the aptitude to go into one of the sciences. It's about time that we stopped putting so much emphasis in STEM fields and change it to STEAM. For more information on STEM to STEAM, visit this link.

4. You Need to Know How to Communicate.

One of the major things that I have noticed, as a member of student government as well as a Resident Assistant, is that communication does not come easy to most people. Whether it be oral or electronic, it seems to me that most people have lost the ability to communicate effectively and properly. On my first day in my English Composition course, a professor had to explain in detail that we were not to use abbreviations of words when corresponding with him, and gave examples of when it had been done in the past. Majoring and/or minoring in a liberal arts field such as communications, I feel, gives your resume a boost as employers not only look for job applicants that can do the technical work, but also communicates well with others and is creative.

5. Do What Makes You Happy, Not What Makes Your Wallet Big.

Maybe this is coming from the optimist in me that believes, with hard work and perseverance, everyone can achieve their dreams. The only issue with this is that we let public figures get away with say things such as that we need more welders than philosophy majors in the world (I'm talking about you, Marco Rubio). In my personal experience, people who enjoy the field they are in tend to work harder and have more opportunities to advance in those fields. What Marco Rubio probably doesn't know is that earning a degree in philosophy can sometimes lead to a career in politics (so long as a student takes the appropriate measure and applies for a law degree as well). You will work for the next 50+ years of your life, you better make sure that it's something that you enjoy doing.