5 Things English Majors Are Tired Of Hearing | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

5 Things English Majors Are Tired Of Hearing

No, My Major Is Not Useless

61
5 Things English Majors Are Tired Of Hearing
Lauren Mancke

While attending a liberal arts college, you might expect there to be a lot of people hanging out in the coffee shop discussing Homer and the Renaissance. However, in reality, there are not a whole lot of humanities majors. Especially those who fall into the study of English and Literature. Along with this rarity of a major, there comes a lot of stigma attached. As most already know, there are rumors that the humanities departments are dying out. No one wants to study stylistic writing and Shakespeare when you could study science and get a job with a hefty check attached after graduation (well, and more years of schooling). I honestly do not blame these students, because who really wants to be a part of a department that no one respects and seems to get abused? No one wants to join a club that has a bad reputation.

There is an obvious need for the English department which is to teach the incoming freshmen basic composition to ensure that they begin academia with a strong cornerstone for success. Which is normally taken with "Why do I have to take English 101, I know how to write. Blah blah blah." However, those who are interested in studying the wonderful world of literary theory and brilliant authors see the English department as a tool for their own success. While I could go into the very details that make English a diverse and successful, and not useless, degree, I will save that argument for the professionals.

I will, however, allow you to indulge in the five most annoying questions and comments that English majors are absolutely exhausted of hearing.

1. "So what are you going to do with that?"

This is by far one of the most annoying questions to any college student, let alone English majors. Some of us know what we are doing whether it be teaching, going into publications, editing, or simply writing. However, most of us do not know what we are exactly going to do with our major. We just really love the written word and hope to incorporate our passion and talent into a good career. It does not help when someone asks you what your major is and then they respond with a slightly condescending question.

2. "Oh, you want to teach?"

Let's just say that you're a Biology major and someone says to you, "Oh so you want to teach high school Biology?" I can only assume that you would be slightly offended (unless, of course, your goal was to teach Biology). Now imagine getting that response every time you tell someone your major. No, I don't really want to teach. If I did, I would have been an Education major or I would have told you that I want to teach. Sure, I may end up teaching one day, but as for now, please leave teaching out of the conversation.

3. "Oh wow that's an interesting choice."

You might as well have just told me that I made a poor choice in choosing my major. In fact, you could not come up with anything else to respond with so you just told me that you don't care by covering it in seemingly sweet, sprinkled words. I know exactly what you mean and yes, it is interesting to me. That's why I chose English as my major.

4. "So you just read all the time?"


Yes. I do. I read. I write and analyze my writing and other people's writing. This is what my major basically is. Asking an English major if they read is like asking a Science major if they have lab. Reading is not all that we do, but it is a major aspect of our major. It's hard reading, not lounging around at a coffee shop and discussing the plot of "The Fault in our Stars."

5. "That's such a boring/useless major."

This comment is simply rude and arrogant. It truly shows that people genuinely no longer appreciate majors that are not about making big money or running major companies. My major is not useless. In fact, it is one of the most useful majors out there. Students who graduate with an English degree have a large range of opportunity in the realm of job prospects. Employers hire English majors quite often. Also, studying English helps students learn how to read, write, and respond more efficiently and enhances their overall view of the world. Take that.

It's important that we chose to think about our words before we say them. There are many majors that run under the radar when it comes to the idea of a successful major. It is also important to understand that just because a specific major has a reputation that leads people to believe it is useless, that does not mean it is. People who follow their dreams based on their passions are not making a poor decision, but a brave one. We are adults and we need to stop passing judgment on others for their field of study no matter how useless it seems.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

432
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

266
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199195
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20263
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments