Here's a list of questions I encounter on a weekly basis: Did you do your homework for class today? Are you going out this weekend? Television, Radio, and Film? Is that even a major?

Yes. Yes, it is. And thank you for sounding so enthused by it.

When I first switched to TRF, many people were confused. Why would I switch from Broadcast and Digital Journalism--a field that needs more people in it--to one that is almost impossible to break into? Why would I feel the need to change majors when I only dipped my toe in BDJ classes? Why did I hand in a major declaration form with TRF instead of BDJ and didn't tell anyone?

But here's the thing: I don't need to justify my major to you or anyone else.

There are only two things in life that I want to do: Write and make people smile. Becoming a screenwriter like I plan will help me accomplish that. When I started to cover police reports, robberies, and politics in my BDJ classes, I knew no one would be happy reading what I wrote. I would bring people stress instead of joy, and God knows no one needs more stress.

Most of my friends are going to college in the hopes of becoming doctors, engineers, and nutritionists because that's what makes them happy. I could never do what they do in a million years, and I thoroughly respect them for wanting to dedicate their lives to that. Thankfully, they've never questioned my major choice, but I've been thoroughly judged by others because my major is perceived as being 'trivial' or 'unnecessary'.

To those people I say this: You wouldn't be entertained by the stories you love without people like me.

So the next time someone tells you they have what you might consider an "impractical major," just know that's what makes that person happy and, while it might not be important to you, it's their entire life.