Eye rolls, furrowed brows, confused expressions, rude comments. I've seen and heard it all when it comes to explaining my life as a communications major.
As I am nearing graduation in a little more than two months, I have completely had it with what others have to say about my choice in studies. I have been thoroughly analyzing what it is that I am studying and all that I can do with it.
Sure, I may not have a "career path" unlike you education, science, or business majors with the next five years of my life mapped out for me, but honestly my options are nearly endless. I certainly cannot tell you what I'll be doing after graduation, but that's the fun part.
Here are a few things I have encountered over the four years of my studies:
"So, what can you even do with that major?"
Anything. Literally....a n y t h i n g. From public relations to advertising, to journalism, to event planning, to broadcasting, to film. Anything that requires communicating whether it be visually, verbally, digitally, I could probably tackle it better than you can.
"You're not planning on going to grad school!?"
For the time being, no. If I network properly, show dedication, excel in areas on my own, why drown in more debt than I need to? However, if I absolutely must receive my masters I have no problem going back to school. I do not feel that is completely necessary, though.
"All you do is learn to speak."
Yep, you're right. That's exactly what I've been doing for the past four years at a university. Ummmm, hello?! Communication is not just speaking. We are now in a digital age where everything is online. When speaking to the general public it should be around a 6th grade level with lots of visuals. Tweets are only 140 characters. How do you think big companies communicate through a tweet effectively? Communication studies.
"Your major is so easy."
You right, you right. Reading communication theories linked to psychology, philosophy, and rhetoric, then writing page after page in APA style trying to explain everything in my own words, while relating it to real world situations is so easy I could do it in my sleep. How about you read A Thousand Plateaus by Deleuze and Guattari, then tell me what they're talking about.
