Johns Hopkins University is often thought of as a bustling hub for the next generation of world-class doctors. It is known as a place that fosters the brilliant minds of surgeons and oncologists alike, before they take their places among the best of the best. So when I tell people that I am studying creative writing at Hopkins, they are pretty astounded with how completely and utterly unimpressive I seem.
The question is, why do people tend to look down upon subjects that fall under the realm of the dreaded humanities, such as writing?
One possible answer is that some people believe that these are the “easy” majors. These people think that while the science students are working on problem sets and lab reports, the humanities students are thumbing through young adult novels and taking Netflix breaks. However, I have seen firsthand how this is not true (at least not always). During my first year in college, I have taken a wide array of classes (due to my inability to make life decisions). This included classes in both the humanities and the “hard sciences.” I admit that comparatively, the work was different, however I hesitate to label one as more difficult or rigorous. In both types of classes, I found that in order for me to develop a true understanding of what was expected, I had to put a good amount of time in, regardless of whether I was studying Shakespearean sonnets or neurophysiology.
I have known many students studying writing who have worked harder and longer than some studying more traditionally “difficult” subjects, such as engineering, and vice versa. I truly believe that the amount of time and effort that a student dedicates to studying is completely dependent on the student, and not what they are studying. Studying writing isn’t just about getting lost in a book or line of poetry, it’s about sharpening your skills and honing your craft, just like in any other area of study.
On another note, I believe that it is important to recognize that many students in areas such as writing would be able to study and excel in other subjects, however they choose not to. For many, it is truly a question of what they are passionate about and what field they enjoy the most.
Perhaps another reason that many find fault with majors such as writing is that they believe it is impossible to find a high-paying career in such fields. This is another unfortunate circumstance that I witnessed firsthand, and to be honest I got tired of the “Starbucks barista” joke about a month after I decided on my major. It’s easy to hear this and get discouraged or scared--no one wants to work hard towards a degree for years and then find themselves without a job and with a useless piece of paper. But as I began my studies and met people who were in my major, I saw how unfounded this really is. Writing students can go off to work in publishing, or government, or finance, or even go to medical school, among countless other possibilities. In my short time in college so far, I saw how a writing degree, which I originally feared to be useless, is versatile enough to get you anywhere--if you are able to use it right.
Although I, personally, may not be working in a lab or a hospital anytime in my future, I’m confident that by the end of my studies I’ll be more than able to find a career I love with a degree in writing.
And if that doesn’t pan out, I’m planning on double majoring anyway.
