English majors everywhere get asked a similar question, “So you want to be a teacher?” A similar stereotype would be assuming a woman wants to have kids because she is a woman. Not all woman are mothers, and not all English majors are teachers.

Some majors tell you what you are going to do, such as architecture creates architects, but other specializations are broad like history or English.

After the initial irritation from hearing this question and many disagreements with relatives inquiring about my future, I wondered why.

What were these stereotypes and assumptions regarding English Majors? So, I thought back to encounters I have had and some of the stereotyping I had to navigate.

‘“So, you want to be a teacher?”’

We live in a professional world, and this world abides by similar rules as English. Also, the major has psychological components that give personal insight into human nature and is literally better on paper.

People don’t tend to think about how much English affects their daily lives. It is everywhere, so there is a demand for it. Don’t just associate English with your kooky middle school teacher.

Majoring in English is like specializing in human nature, and you can’t put human nature in a box (especially a teacher-size one).

“Oh, you’re a writer? Poetry or what?”

Their face when they ask the second question is priceless. Often it is a grimace hiding behind a smile and big fearful eyes that you are going to whip out a poem at any second.

People tread lightly around poetry because it is such an emotional craft, and they forget they can have their own opinions about work. Then, if you do write poetry they look at you like you are the weird kid in high school (again).

The best part though is when they hit you with the line, “I would love to read it sometime!” -- something everyone says when they are backed up against a wall talking to a writer. People I barely know have said this to me regarding my poetry, and I always say, “Trust me, you don’t.”

I think that is more of an eighth date kind of thing.

Another question is, “I’m sure you love this stuff.”

I would get this in school when the teacher made the unfortunate decision to assign us a classic to read. Though this was true for me, it is not the case for most others who love English. I was in the minority, hyped up about reading Tolstoy.

English majors are surprisingly a lot like normal people and don't enjoy having to read long novels over the summer. They like topics in science fiction and mystery just like you, but they are the ones that create it.

So, no. English majors do not necessarily love classic literature, though they should (because it’s awesome).

I like to think about all the businesses out there. Every ad agency, law firm, non-profit group and fortune five-hundred company and how English has affected every one of them. If they exist, I will not be limited to teaching.