"What's your major?"

Those three words have the ability to send me into a panic mode. When I tell them I'm an Art+Design major will they look at me different? Will they think I'm less intelligent than they thought before they knew my major? Will they think I took the "easy route"? Should I tell them about my minors too so it makes my major more justified?

These are just a few of the thoughts that run through my head when I'm asked what my major is and quite frankly, I'm sick of it. I am an art and design major, and I am proud of it, so why do I feel nervous telling people what I'm majoring in or feel like I need to justify it? Society has painted such a negative image of my major that at times it does make it really hard to tell people my major when the common reaction people give you is a shocked look and often follow up that look with a "So what will you do with that major....?"

The dreaded question all majors that aren't math or science related receive. Let me just get one thing straight: It shouldn't matter to you want I do or don't do with my major after graduation. I know shocking right, but it's true! Sure it can be confusing to others because my major isn't as straight forward career wise as say Pharmacy or Business.

If you are generally curious what job I want to pursue after college I will happily tell you that I would like to do something with graphic design. So I guess its not the question of "what I want to do with my major?" that bothers me, it's the way people ask, the shocked looks I receive and the laughs. I'm not laughing at your major, so why are you laughing at mine?

As an Art major, I work just as hard as everyone else. I sit in 3-hour studio classes almost everyday and work the entire time. While I'm not constantly studying for tests for my major, I'm still working hard to meet my deadlines on my projects and build my portfolio for applying to job in the future.

I have also committed myself to two minors in which I work my butt off to do all at the same time. My A's in my art classes are just as justified as your A in Business. It may not seem like a lot of work to be an art major, but it is. Being creative can be hard folks. There is a lot of artwork out there and it's pretty hard to come up with new and creative ideas for my artwork, usually every week.

I'm done justifying my major. I love the work I do and I am simply just following a career path that I know I will be happy with in the future. You found your passion, I found mine. So next time someone tells you they are an art major or a music major or an English major, think before you give them a disapproving look. We are working hard and trying to make it through this crazy college life just as much as you are.