13 Things I'm Tired of Hearing As An English Major | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

13 Things I'm Tired of Hearing As An English Major

15
13 Things I'm Tired of Hearing As An English Major

Unlike most college students, who tend to worry about future job stability, success, income and rationality, I have decided to major in that which is the most unusual of the usual majors; English. In the weeks preceding finals, as my peers are holed up in libraries and the darkest corners of their minds, I skip through fields of poppies and rabbits, collecting them in my arms as I whisper to them the finest, sweetest nothings that romance can conjure.

But although my major is not the most typical of college majors, English majors are people too. And we’re tired of hearing…

1. “Hey English major, write me a haiku!”
I’m getting tired of walking down Bruin Walk and having random strangers jump on top of me, tying my wrists down with zip-ties to the nearest staircase railing, pummeling me until I start seeing red, and demanding that I write them a delicate but powerful 5-7-5 syllabic poem. Just let me go to class, please. 

2. “Hey English major, are you gonna cry??”
It’s such an unfair stereotype that all English majors are hypersensitive daffodils that can’t make it through a single hour without weeping over some lost love. It’s something Abigail always held against me. Oh my sweet, sweet Abigail... I miss you so. 

3. “Hey English major, how do you say ‘burrito’ in English?”
Ok, I get it. I’m studying English so now I’m expected to know how to say everything in English. I’m sorry, random person, I don’t know how to say "burrito" in English any more than you do. 

4. “Hey English major, how is F. Scott Fitzgerald doing?”
Ha, ha. Super funny. Because I’m an English major I’m friends with every author who ever existed, dead or alive. Well, guess what? I’m not going to tell you how F. Scott Fitzgerald is doing because he’s very private and he doesn’t like when I tell people about him. 

5. “Hey English major, how do the Romantic poets of the 18th century interfuse the radical political atmosphere of English society at the time into their descriptions of nature, and what figurative devices do they use to accomplish this?”
You don’t think I get enough of this in class? I don’t need to hear it from my roommate as well! 

6. “Hey English major, what channel is ESPN on?”
This one drives me crazy. I know that I’m not that great at math because I haven’t done it in a while, but to rub it in my face by asking me complex mathematical equations like this is just conceited and rude. No, I don’t know how to calculate what channel ESPN is on. Happy, Einstein? 

7. “Hey English major, there’s a pretty girl over there. Are you madly in love with her now?”
I want to make something very clear. Not all English majors are irrational romantics who fall in love with every beating pulse they see. But that Jamba Juice cashier was not some “random girl.” She is the exquisite epitome of beauty, grace, and everything in between, and I love her. 

8. “Hey English major, how many Shakespeare plays did you read last night?”
Four. But I don’t like your tone. 

9. “Hey English major, write my paper for me!”
I admit, I probably enjoy writing papers more than the average student. But it is still exhausting for me, and I already have to do it so much that I don’t want to go out of my way to write yours just because you’re lazy. 

12. “Hey English major, do you even know how to count?”
Yes, I do. Come on, everyone knows how to count. What a silly, ridiculous question to ask. 

11. “Hey English major, make this heart-broken giraffe feel loved and beautiful for the first time since it caught sight of, and then lost, the most invigorating female giraffe it ever laid its giraffe eyes upon.”
Look, I may not have the same amount of homework as a South Campus major, but I do have a lot of reading to do. I don’t have time to continually console and swoon your zoo animals into self-confidence every time they get their heart broken. 

12. “Hey English major, I really respect what you do.”
Way to be underhanded about your insult. I can tell through your use of alliteration, used in line one, “really respect” (You, pg. 1) that you are employing an atmosphere of aestheticism to your sentence. Thus, you are implying that your remark should be taken superficially. This, in turn, represents how disingenuous your comment really is. 

13. “Hey English major, you might be over-analyzing things.”
What could you mean by that? 

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

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

13144
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2443
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1510
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments