Growing up, all I ever wanted to do was become a doctor. There was never a single doubt in my mind as to what I was supposed to do when I grew up. I played doctor as a little kid, dressed up as one for Halloween, and took all the high school classes I could to prepare me for my future. I entered college knowing exactly what I wanted to do, with all the confidence in the world and my head held high.
Long story short, I realized that my passion for the sciences was lacking tenfold. I had no interest in learning about dipolar movement in chemistry, or about the function of the golgi apparatus in biology. It wasn’t for me. So I followed my gut and my gut landed me smack-dab in the middle of the College of Communications, as an advertising major
And I absolutely love it.
It’s the perfect fit for me. I get to express myself through projects. The words creativity, ingenuity, and imagination are the key to my success. I love the endless opportunities my major presents, and the multitude of job titles, agencies, and companies I can work for. It fits my personality in a way that being a doctor never could.
Once I switched though, I saw a shift in the way people would talk about my major and my classes. People would ask me “is that even a real major?” or, “What can you do with that?” or, “Make sure you get another major outside the communications field.” One or two people even said they were shocked I would drop down and out of the sciences. My personal favorite is when people tell me that my major isn’t a difficult one.
It was hurtful and this is what I have to say those people:
You do not have the right to judge me for choosing a major that I love. You do not have the right to think less of me because I’m choosing something that you think is not of the same caliber as your major. You do not have the right to think that I’m less intelligent because I chose a major that allows me to be creative.
My major is hard. It’s hard for me. It challenges me to keep innovating and to use my imagination. It takes a creative spark, ingenuity, and a vision. It takes a hell of a lot of effort. It’s not easy. And you know what? I get that your major is hard too. It’s challenging. What would be the point in trying to further your education in something that was easy? Every person’s major is challenging. It just depends on how you spin it.
Think of this: if you were to put a science/math-orientated student into a class filled with arts and creativity and projects, odds are they would struggle. Likewise you put a creatively inclined person into a hard science, it’s not going to come easy to them.
And that’s OK.
It doesn’t make you less of a person to not be great at science. It’s not fair to say that someone’s major isn’t hard because they’re not learning quantum physics. It’s not fair because you don’t know. And that’s what it comes down to: you do not know what it’s like to be in someone else’s major. Stop telling your friends that their major isn’t hard because, unless you’ve done it, you have no idea what it takes.
So to all those who have struggled with the same issues that I have, the hospitality management majors, the event planning majors, the dance majors, the women’s studies majors…you’re major is no less than anyone else’s. Your major is worth just as much as anyone else’s, regardless of what everyone on the outside believes. Without us, there would be no elegant sculptures, or Broadway musicals. There would be no weddings worthy of Pinterest. There would be no five-star hotels. And there would be no Super Bowl advertisements.
Your major is significant in it’s own unique way, no matter what anyone else thinks.
