I have what is considered by many to be a useless major. In all corners of the Internet, I have found lists (like this one, this one, or this one) declaring that my major of Communication, one that has been described to me as ‘versatile,’ ‘flexible,’ and ‘current’ by professors, is in fact useless. In the eyes of those criticizing my major, all of these traits might as well translate to ‘impractical,’ ‘unemployable,’ and ‘worthless.’
The label of ‘useless’ transcends beyond just my major. These lists and articles place my major in the same league as psychology, fine arts, philosophy, archaeology, history, political science, liberal arts, and other majors of that vein. We have all become grouped together under one "useless major" umbrella, one that will not protect you from the volatile storms of making a name for yourself in the workforce.
People in these majors, myself included, are condemned for not pursuing a major or career in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) or business fields. Why is it that I am apparently doomed to a mediocre career and salary because I have a greater proficiency in language and thinking than I do math and science?
When I inform others of my major, their first reaction is to question what I plan to do with my life with such a degree. Their second reaction is usually to joke about my career prospects. Many ‘useless’ majors do not lay out clearly defined career paths for you to follow. It is up to me and my fellow useless major holders to carve out our own path where we believe the skills we have picked up are relevant. While this amount of freedom makes others anxious, I view it as the chance to invent myself. With a useless major, the world is mine to take by storm.
Besides, majors of the ‘useless’ variety are judged based on their income for young professionals. Majors should not be evaluated based on the wealth (or glaring lack of wealth) they allow you to generate. Majors and careers should be evaluated on the skills they allow you to cultivate, the change they encourage you to make, and the ideas and perspectives they allow you to gain. Without a ‘useless’ major, so many people’s minds would be empty, only to be filled up by the duller details of the world.
These majors delve beyond mere memorization or scientific facts. Most 'useless' majors require emotional intelligence, skills in introspection and critical thinking, and a willingness to understand the workings and problems of humanity. In short, having a 'useless' major helps you learn to be more human. And maybe that’s why they are considered useless. If there is anything we love to run from, it’s our own humanity.
I do not regret my choice of major at all. While human nature stays the same, the ways we express ourselves seldom remains concrete. New platforms of communication will always pop up, and I will be here with my useless degree to figure out how to utilize them best.
Maybe I’ll regret this article in the future, sitting in my crummy apartment (or perhaps in my parents' basement), wondering why I didn’t pick finance or accounting or even engineering. But for now, I am in pursuit of a dream and a chance to change the world, and I know that will never change.So, for everyone out there with what is described as a 'useless' major, do not mind the opinions of others. Our choice of major does not mean that we're impractical, lazy, unintelligent, or shortsighted. Keep marching to the beat of your own drummer.
