As a lone journalism major in a sea full of health science geniuses, it is extremely difficult for me to convince my (incredibly intelligent) friends that my responsibilities here are pretty tough as well. I may not be learning maths and sciences for hours upon hours a day, but that should not invalidate my own education. Over the past few months, I have come up with a list of struggles that journalism majors face while attending school.
1. People telling you that your major is easy
The first time someone told me that I was in an "easy major," I had a complete meltdown mixed with a bit of a quarter-life crisis. It is really easy to believe people when they tell you that you're taking the easy way out when you aren't the one studying for hours on end. It wasn't until I began writing multiple papers a week that I realized how wrong those people were. No major is "easy." There is nothing simple about my major. We are all stressed about work. You can step off of your high horse now if you really believe otherwise.
2. No one understands why you take on so much work
It never ceases to amaze me how many people genuinely do not understand why I take on so much extra work on top of regular school work. Ironically, it is usually the same people who tell me that my major is not difficult at all. I take on so much because I want to write as much as I can. I want to be prepared for my future the same way that you do. No matter how many breakdowns I may have over deadlines and writers block, I do not regret taking every opportunity that I have taken so far. I actually feel lucky to be as involved as I am.
3. Being told that you will never get a job
Any time that I mention my plans for the future, the looks that I get are always the same. The looks of doubt and skepticism are hard to ignore when I mention my dream of writing for newspapers for the rest of my life. I think that any journalism major can relate to this. What people do not understand though, is that we understand that it will be difficult to find a job. We are completely aware of the fact that we may struggle, but we are okay with it because we will be doing what we love to do eventually. News does not simply stop happening. Someone has to write about it. I want to be that person.
4. "So you are okay with having no money in the future?"
Yes. In short, the answer is yes. It may sound crazy, but I would be perfectly fine with just barely scrapping by so long as I am doing with I love to do. I would rather wake up in a tiny apartment every morning excited for my job than wake up in a huge house exhausted from a job that I despise. So yes, I have accepted the fact that I will most likely struggle. Also, I am not interested in the amount of money that you will make one day, so why are you so concerned about what I will make?
At the end of the day, it is important to stick to a major that you feel passionate about. Don't let others talk you out of what you want to do. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and don't give up until you prove everyone else wrong.
