People will tell you, almost automatically, how boring your field of study is to them.
This attitude can almost always be attributed to the person’s experience with their high school history teacher who was one of two people. The coach who doubled as a teacher and cared more about the score of last night’s Duke basketball game than Eleanor Roosevelt’s roll in human right. The droning, monotone, pretentious, ivy leaguer who is likely related to the economic’s teacher from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
You will be asked to comment on recent political happenings.
Although I’m unsure how or why this phenomenon began, when people find out you are a history major, you will inevitably be asked odd politically charged questions. At least it would make more sense if the politician were already dead.
You will hear how awesome “ Pawn Stars” and “Swamp People” on the History Channel are.
This particular occurrence happens almost exclusively with friends and relatives that know virtually nothing about history. The History Channel is to history what Indiana Jones is to archaeology. We don’t appreciate the comparison, people. Just don’t do it.
If the period you are studying has nothing to do with the US, good luck finding anyone who is interested in your topic.
You will find as a history major, that once you hit your junior and senior years, the course options become broader and shockingly enough there are historical events to study that took place outside of the United States. However, in today’s time, it is all about America and blind patriotism and anything outside of that is taboo.
You will be asked, often, what you plan to do with your degree.
If the job doesn’t bring in the big bucks, then what’s the point right? As the gleam leaves your mother’s eye when she finds out that you are not going to be the doctor or lawyer she had always hoped for, you will begin to realize that most people don’t put much stock in a liberal arts degree. You will probably spend most of your life defending your career choices. It will be a hard road ahead on the journey to find your true passion, but when you do, it will be amazing.
