“What are you going to do with your major?”
Aw, the inevitable question at seemingly every family gathering. During winter break and the holiday season, this question is bound to have come up at family functions. Whether it’s from your parents or your third cousin you see once a year, hearing this question can be incredibly frustrating and annoying.
Of course, our friends and family are only curious and concerned, wanting to make sure we are on the “right” path to finding a stable job and steady income. But when you hear this question over and over, especially if you are not 100% sure about what you want to do after graduating from college, this constant questioning can be a cause for despair.
As a recent graduate, I have of course definitely encountered this question lately. Even when I was still in college, few people outside of my school had any clue what a “communication” major entailed. To this day, I am still explaining the basics of the degree I earned to the same loved ones over and over again.
When I first began my college journey, I had no idea what a communication major entailed. I came into school with a different major, found myself unsatisfied with the corresponding classes, and switched to a communication degree. In all honesty, part of my reasoning for making the switch was my passion for speech and debate. While my love of speech and debate changed throughout my college career, that same passion for communicating feelings and ideas in a myriad of ways kept up my drive for my major.
When I attempt to explain my degree to others, it is difficult to explain how that love for communication translates into a paying job. Trust me, there are plenty of avenues- marketing, public relations, journalism, political campaigns, event planning, and so much more- but when it comes right down to it, that’s not the point. Like any reasonably hardworking young person, I want a good paying job that I at least mildly enjoy. However, the last three and a half years of my life I have been studying and working for my degree have prepared me for so much more than just a career.
With my major, I have gained the skills to express to my partner when I feel upset or hurt; I can even help my partner communicate how he feels. With my major, I have learned to recognize why some people are difficult to get along with, and how to modify my behavior in order to minimize conflict. With my major, I can advocate for myself and for the causes I am passionate about. With my major, I am able to develop healthy relationships with the people around me.
Just the other night, my partner and I had a very honest discussion about issues we have been struggling with and how we want to move forward. We have had numerous similar discussions over the past two and a half years; conflicts and disagreements come up from time to time, just like in any relationship. And while all relationships encounter problems, in my current romantic relationship, I have become more and more competent at communicating my feelings and my desires. I'd be a fool to say it is just natural talent; spending the last three and half years pouring over textbooks and sitting through class lectures about how humans communicate have sure taught me a lot.
At the end of the day, I will always need money to pay my bills. And that money may or may not come from a job directly related to what I studied in college. But also at the end of the day, I will have the ability to communicate with my partner, my family, my friends, my coworkers and even strangers. I have learned the skills to effectively express my thoughts and emotions, which will be a skill valuable in and out of the workplace. No matter what jobs I end up working post-graduation, I will always use the communication skills I learned in college. So when my well intentioned relatives ask “what are you going to do with your major,” I have the best reply of all: I am going to have awesome relationships with my fellow human beings.
