I’m an English major so I read a lot. That’s just how God made English majors. Whether it is the handouts that we’re given in class, the instructions to manuals, the ingredients on our favorite foods, or the texts from our best friends, we’re always reading.

You may be thinking, “I’m not an English major, and I read all those things.” Well, let me explain. English majors don’t just look at words, read them, and move along with their day. English majors see words and immediately analyze them and attempt to interpret their every conceivable meaning.

Are those interpretations relevant? Probably not, but to us those interpretations might have something to say about social justice or humanity's relationship with nature. Is “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” just a children’s story about a caterpillar that loves to eat, or is it a metaphor about how society is hungrily burning through our limited resources in order to advance our culture and that progression will result in some kind of utopian state? The world may never know.

English majors also have strong opinions on almost every classic writer and their works. A non-English major hears about Walt Whitman and may think “Oh, yeah, he was a famous poet,” while an English major will be prepared to give an entire lecture on why Walt Whitman is one of the most revolutionary and influential American poets... or why he is an overrated list-maker who does not deserve to be in the literary canon. Not only do we have opinions on classic writers, but we also all have that one writer who we hold above all others and treat like some kind of super human being. Some are obsessed with Shakespeare, Poe, or Melville, and others have more contemporary tastes like Rowling, Snicket, or Gaiman.

English majors may be obsessive and eccentric, but there is one area that many believe English majors are unbearable when they actually are like everyone else, and that is when it comes to grammar. A lot of English majors will tell you that the English language is a very complicated (and sometimes ridiculous) language that has been changing for centuries. Spelling and grammar rules change almost with every generation, and English majors have pretty much accepted that and don’t tend to scour Facebook posts to correct people’s comma usage and spelling.

Many people also seem to worry about the value English as a major and the people who have chosen to enter this unique field. Don’t worry too much, we all know what we’re getting into, and to be honest, some English majors aren’t too happy with being considered stuck in a hopeless field. Most of us did our research going into college and came up with some kind of plan. Sometimes that plan is writing, teaching, or even some area that most people think has nothing to do with English. To be honest, some of us are just planning on marrying rich (so if there are any wealthy, college age girls looking for boyfriends who can write poetry, I’m single).

English majors are a very unique and just plain interesting group of people, and though we may be similar, none of us are the same. We each have our own quirks and specialties. I’m an English major who wants to spend the rest of my life writing, and I will passionately defend Walt Whitman and his poetry. If you’re looking to have an interesting conversation to spice up your day, I suggest talking to an English major.