For years I’ve been pestered with remarks such as, “English? What are you going to do with that?” or “Oh very nice! So do you want to be a writer or a teacher?” The words rang in my ears for years and the only method of relief was to dismiss it completely. I was always confident with my decision to major in English. For a long time I thought my path was pretty clear: after completing my BA, I was going to enroll in a graduate school for Journalism and essentially follow in the footsteps of Barbara Walters. I knew from the first day of my freshman year which professors I needed to take and how to best navigate the genre requirements. However I would be lying if I said I didn’t have my doubts -- moments where I too thought what am I going to do with a degree in English?

The first reaffirmation of my choice came from “Literary Texts and Critical Methods,” the introductory course mandated by Columbia’s Department of English. My wonderful professor, who completed her Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature here at Columbia, culminated her final lecture with a spiel on why all of us English majors should be proud of our unwavering devotion to the language.

I’ve summarized her words of wisdom into three main points:

1. Trying to make sense of a senseless world.

If you are an English major, you’re going to try and make sense of everything -- analyzing every word and discussing every literary exegesis until you come up with a non-calculated answer. You know that there is no one right answer because ultimately, only the author behind the words can speak to his or her intent -- but this doesn’t stop you from pushing the boundaries and searching for meaning. You are interested in the complex ideas that are hard to find and may even work against the main idea. And you recognize that contradiction is okay so long as you can back up your argument.

2. Better understanding of people and human nature.

Contrary to popular belief, English majors are not just good writers, but they are also acute listeners and critical thinkers. Learning to grasp a text or an idea means familiarizing oneself with the historical context, which takes research. The study of literature maps onto history and enforces a connection to the past that is crucial in understanding people from all backgrounds. My study of English has in turn made me a more empathetic and well-rounded individual.

3. Enhancing your storytelling skills.

If there’s only one thing an English class can do for you, it will enhance your communication skills, both written and oral. You will learn to make your points in a more concise and effective manner, keeping your audience engaged at all times. You will learn to listen to your peers and pay careful attention to all remarks. If you’re an English major, then you know that there is no better way to learn than to listen attentively to the words of your contemporaries. There is no such thing as, “I’ve learned it all,” for there is always room for imaginative reasoning.

A few weeks ago, I sat hopelessly in CCE waiting for some divine intervention -- I know this sounds dramatic, but I’m not sure how else to explain my findings. Peeking out of a clear case in front of me was a sheet that read, “What can you do with a degree in English?” For those of you who spent years telling me my options were limited, I would like you to please step away from your problem set and take a moment to read the following:

I never was and never will be limited. If you are an English major reading this, then good for you! Take pride in your interests and remember that your skills are indeed transferrable to many offices. Just because you’d prefer a close reading to a lab report, doesn’t mean you’re not fit to enter the corporate world.

So I will end this piece by putting a few names out there:

Steven Spielberg: Award-winning film director

Mitt Romney: CEO of Bain Capital

Andrea Jung: Former Avon CEO

Sting: Singer

Conan O’Brien: Television host

Michael Eisner: Former Disney CEO

Judy McGrath: Former MTV CEO

What do they all have in common? That’s right. They’re all English majors.