Since declaring myself an English major in the fall of 2014, I have received numerous comments about why I shouldn't have chosen to pursue English as my major. It only gets worse when I tell them that not only am I an English major, but my concentration is in creative writing.
Below are a select few comments and questions I have heard from different adults so far and what I would like to say to those people.
1. "What are you going to do with that?"
Despite what you may think, English majors have way more professional choices than the standard teaching job. Many English majors, with and without graduate degrees, have gone on to become politicians, TV producers, CEOs of multi-million dollar companies, supreme court judges, prominent journalists and more.
2. "So, basically, you're going to teach?"
Well, OK, of course some people with English majors do want to teach. Personally, however, I do not want to teach and the thought of doing so sickens me. Grading papers and writing syllabi... Nope.
3. "You should have a back-up plan."
I had a music major tell me this once. Just stop, OK? If I wanted to do something I hate that I might make more money doing, I would be a math major or go into medical school. However, I don't really care because I am doing what I love.
4. "You won't make a lot of money."
5. "So, you're going to write poetry?"
You do realize there's more to creative writing than poetry, right? Like fiction, creative non-fiction, screenwriting, drama, editing and publishing, etc. Despite being a creative writer, I could also write professionally: grant writing, speeches, journalistic writing and even writing textbooks. There are so many choices!
6. "I hate reading."
I really never know how to respond to this one. I mean, it's not like I sit around all day and read book after book (except, you know, college reading).
7. "Can you proofread my papers for me?"
Of course I can! But will I put that much effort into reading your seven-page paper about the fall of Rome when I have my own seven-page paper to write? Probably not unless you give me a valid reason (i.e., you're my own blood or my best friend) or a bribe.
Overall, do what makes you happy because, in the end, who wants waste their life in a job they hate?
