So, a lot of the time I'm asked: "Why did you pick Journalism as your major?" or "Why did you change your major to Journalism?"
I used to be a Biology major with a Pre-Dental focus. I wanted to be an orthodontist, and I would have made a ton of money (if I made it through school - fat chance of that happening), and I would have made differences in people's lives by providing them with braces, etcetera.
However, I realized that wasn't for me. So, I said goodbye to the huge salary (and impossible classes), and changed my major to something I was extremely passionate about. I have always LOVED writing. I have always loved reading what others right. I love how you can sometimes feel how a person feels by reading their writing. From lyrics to Odyssey articles to novels - I always appreciate someone who takes the time to write what they feel, what's on their mind, or just something random - like a listicle.
There has been a lot of talk lately about how journalists, reporters and others relevant to the field are continuously experiencing a decrease in pay. While that is definitely unfortunate, people who write do it because they love to write. I know many people, some Odyssey writers, who are Business majors, or Biology majors, and still take time out of their week to post an article because it's something they love to do. I write for many publications where I don't get paid to do it, but that doesn't change my outlook at all. It's rewarding to be complimented on articles, have the most shares that week, or even just to change ONE person's opinion by your words.
There will literally ALWAYS be a need for journalists in our world - especially now, where it seems like there is some sad, negative event occurring weekly. But luckily, many journalists love to cover to happy stories, too. There are so many times where I scroll through my Facebook feed (ignoring many Facebook brawls over controversial topics), and something positive will pop up from The Odyssey, local news channels or anything alike.
When I graduate next year, and start looking for jobs, I am so thankful that I chose to be a Journalism major. It has such a broad selection of careers - and most of them include informing and just speaking to people who want to hear what you have to say. Whether that be broadcasting, public relations, news writing, or anything else relevant to the field, I'll always go back to everything I learned through Journalism, and probably, almost 100 percent still write articles for some sort of online publication. Journalists really do make a difference and significantly help inform society - it's not about the money.
