Some of the most common questions college students hear are: "What are you studying?", or "What do you want to do?" A lot of times, we just don't know! The natural tendency is to major in something you enjoy/are good at. This was my strategy when choosing my major. However, along with this came endless scrutiny and unwarranted judgement in places you would least expect. For example, your summer job.
If you work for the public, you're prone to have various interactions with people who annoy you, are rude to you, or tell you how to do your job. Some people pry, some people don't want to talk at all, and some people want to know your entire life story. I recently had an encounter at work that really bothered me and here's what happened:
It was the beginning of the day when a fellow lifeguard and I were sitting out, waiting for the regulars to arrive. The only people on the beach were a grandfather and his grandchildren. As the grandkids ran around the beach, the grandfather took it upon himself to ask my coworker and I where we went to school, what we were studying, etc. My coworker explained that she was going to a college in Connecticut to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. I then explained that I was attending Union College, and I was majoring in English. He chuckled and pointed to my coworker and said, "Well, you can guarantee that she'll get a job a lot faster than you!" My fake smile immediately turned to a genuine frown.
When I came home from work that day I explained to my parents what he had said, and they both told me not to be so sensitive. While I'm sure the man didn't really mean any harm by his comment, I was struck by how normal the conversation was, and how familiar it felt. The larger picture was that I was constantly being doubted and scrutinized for choosing to major in English. Why do I feel the need to explain myself each and every time I tell someone my major?
There are so many responses to people who don't understand a liberal arts degree. One of the most common assumptions I get is that I am studying English to be a teacher. While I have absolutely nothing against teachers, in fact my own mother studied English and became a teacher, teaching is not my first choice career. People tend to limit my abilities based off what I am studying, and narrow it down to one field.
A lot of people also assume that English majors are too dumb for a degree in the STEM subjects. This is a topic that drives me insane. First of all, if I really loved science, I would major in biology or become an engineer. But the simple fact, is that I just don't like the subject! I took honors science classes all throughout high school and still managed to receive As and Bs. Just because I choose not to focus on these subjects in college, does not make me any less intelligent.
One of the reasons I chose to study English in college is for my love of literature. I have always loved to read. Immersing yourself in a world other than your own is one of the most magical things, we as humans, are capable of. Similarly, writing is such a magnificent tool that enables people to constantly enrich each other through stories, advice, and insight. English is one of the very few subjects where there is so much freedom. I get to share my ideas and theories everyday, and there is never room to be completely wrong. English is a subject that is always growing. Because I love it so much, I am motivated to do better. I have a thirst to go to the library and read a short story that forces me to think, and possibly re-evaluate my life as it is.
Sure, I would love to be a doctor or a nurse, but going through all those years of schooling, studying subjects that I dislike, would not allow me to enjoy my education and value my learning. Studying what you love makes it not so much of a chore, but rather a hobby. And as the saying goes, "do what you love, love what you do." Looking back at that day at work, I should have explained to the man that the major you choose is not the key to success in the work force, but rather an investment in your future. My education in English is not only preparing me for the "real world" but it is also allowing me to continue to learn about myself and others through creation and an open mind.
