If you are an English major or are even just acquainted with one, then you know the struggle is real. In a day and age where math, science and business degrees take the forefront as the top-ranked programs, the humanities are slipping to the background where just a few of us true liberal arts fanatics are left to keep the legacy going. I mean, no offense to anyone in those fields, and I'm sure that all of you have dealt with your own stereotypes and struggles. This is just a tale of my own experiences and the stereotyping I encounter as a student in the humanities, specifically English.

Yes, I am an English major. No, that does not necessarily mean that I want to be a teacher. This degree fosters top-notch written and verbal communication skills, as well as amazing critical thinking abilities. Some use this as a stepping stone into the world of education, but others, like myself, study this subject due to our love of the content and the potential doors a degree like this, that shapes a well-rounded individual, can open, whether they be Graduate school or other career opportunities.

While we don't often admit this, we, too, procrastinate on essays. We may love to write and have a gift for it, but that doesn't mean that we have any desire to begin that eight page Frankenstein analysis paper when the professor assigns it four weeks in advance. We get writer's block, and even we would rather go take a food run with our roomies than write an essay. We all experience the stress-filled nights of speed essay writing the night before the paper is due; it's a college must.

We get VERY annoyed when you think of our exam as easier because it is a written essay instead of multiple choice or short answer test. Whereas you can prepare for the content that you will see on the test, we are going into that exam room blind. The professor may have told us that the essay needs to be over "The Bloody Chamber," but we don't know whether it will be over symbolism, feminist readings of the text, the impact of an unnamed heroine, etc. until the day of. Oh, and guess what! Sometimes, we get a surprise on exam day—we must write two essays in our three-hour time slot. Yes, we enjoy reading and analyzing the text, but that does not mean that it is easy in any form.

Also, we will scoff at you if you get stressed over a measly two-page paper. We may understand in our minds that writing isn't your forte, but it is hard to accept this in our hearts. We break our backs on long essays in short periods of time, so yes, we will pass a little bit of judgement on your stress over two pages. We don't mean it in a condescending light, but sometimes we can't help ourselves. (And you can't say that you've never slightly judged one of us for not getting a math concept right away.)

We get very frustrated over incorrect grammar, so when we find someone who holds themselves to the highest grammar standards, like ourselves, it is a bit like love at first sight. Once you have proven your proficiency in discerning between the different forms of its (it's), your (you're), and there (their, they're), I will go to war for you. Maybe not a major war, but I've got your back if you're ever in a Nerf Crusade.

Another thing that bothers us...using the words 'good' and 'well' interchangeably. These words are not synonyms, so please stop using them as if they are. Again, we may judge you for these mistakes, not out of malice but out of despondency.

Once we become accustomed to the long essays (that can sometimes be a hassle), it is very hard to reign in our inner-voices for shorter assignments. Don't think that we don't appreciate these shorter tasks, but these can actually be more difficult than the more substantial pieces.

We have fallen in love countless times through the pages of our favorite books. From Fitzwilliam Darcy to Jay Gatsby, the bar is set high for any future men in our lives. If you understand our literary references, and especially if you make them back to us, you are most likely approaching the bar. Just remember, my first love will always be Darcy.

Like our slight pass of judgement on your anxiety over a two-page paper, we may also judge you for being stressed over a deadline that to us seems borderline ludicrous. We don't mean this personally, but come on, after learning how to write an eight-page literary analysis in three days, we see your two week timeline as quite plentiful.

Lastly, it does hurt our feelings when you constantly barrage us with criticism in our choice of major. No, we are not getting a degree that puts us in a specific and lucrative field, but we are going to school for something that we love and feel passionate about. While, no, I can't live off of love, I am going to take advice from Confucius.

"Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life." - Confucius