My roommate is a mathematical genius, at least in my opinion. She solves things that I take one look at and want to throw up, yet she does it with pleasure. Meanwhile, I took Calculus in high school and was nauseated every time I stepped into the musty room, looking at differential equations and related rates…don’t even get me started. Math and science have never interested in me; I’m not bad at it, but I don’t enjoy it either. Writing has always come naturally to me, and it’s always been an interest of mine. But for some reason, for too many people, writing seems like a joke.
It’s not easy for everyone to be able to create ideas from thoughts. For me, it just happens. That's why it’s irritating when I’m standing next to my roommate, and some guy comes up to us and asks what we’re majoring in. We get the same response every time. A super shocked yet impressed look when she tells him she’s in Engineering, and an “Oh, sounds cool,” nonchalant shrug when I tell him I’m trying to get into the Journalism school at Madison. Why is it so impressive that a girl is good at Math? But more importantly, why is it so NOT impressive that a girl is a good writer? Writing is not a joke; it is not easy. I could be as smart as my roommate but use a different part of my brain. I have constant thoughts in my head about things I should be writing about, could be writing about…the list goes on. It never ends- it’s like I’m writing a book in my head. It’s hard for me to understand why I don’t get credit for that talent. I may not be able to build a rocket, but I can build a story out of nothing. That counts for something.
I may not be Will Hunting from Good Will Hunting, and I may not resemble Einstein. But what about Shakespeare? Or even JK Rowling? They’re worshiped, and yet when I tell somebody I write, they seem almost disappointed that I’m not some “surprisingly smart girl.” We are smart. I admire math majors, but I also value the impact of words. They mean a lot- it’s what we build our entire communication off of. I have the ability to control that through my mind, and I think that deserves appreciation. It’s super bogus, for a lack of better word, that writers don’t get more appreciation. It’s just another part of intelligence, and we’re just as smart as the people trying to cure cancer or constructing the foundation of a rocket.
The power to be able to express yourself through words is a strong one that not everyone has the ability to do. Everyone is smart- Engineers are smart, Scientists are smart, Journalists are smart, Artists are smart and the list goes on. I may get nauseated looking at math problems, but it doesn’t mean I’m stupid or lazy and opted to write. Writing chose me, and I’m going with it.
