The shocked stares. Open mouths. Confusion when people realize that my university is primarily a "pre-med" school. The haughty whispers, the giggles behind flattened palms. She's never going to get anywhere with a major like that. The straight-up laughter, the direct disgust.
Yep, I've heard it all. And yep, I remain resolute.
Because yes, I am an English and Creative Writing major, and yes, I'm pretty damn proud to be one.
But WHY? They ask me. They, these people of science and math and majors that are "applicable" in the "real world." These people who major in things that "make money," who major in things "that actually matter." Oh, but why?
Well, I'll tell you why: because it makes me happy.
Oh? Does that offend you? Does the fact that I want to major in my future happiness and invest in my current talent make you shake a little, make you gasp? Is that enough to make you cringe in disgust?
Well, people like that make ME cringe in disgust.
Since when did majoring in something that makes you happy to be YOU at the end of the day something to be ashamed of? Since when did being an art major become something to laugh at? Since when did being a college student mean majoring in what made the most dough, instead of what made the most do?
Since when did choosing a major became choosing a judgement?
Look, I get it. I'm a writer. I won't be rolling in the deep like my statistician best friend. But who cares? I'm happy doing it! I'll be living in my tiny studio apartment after college, and I'll make sure that my little studio apartment be a DAMN cute one, too!
It's all about what you make of your major that makes it matter. I'm no doctor. Attaching a bio major to a girl like me would be the fastest track to failure. The blood of a ballad runs through my veins; give me pencil and paper and soon you'll see the dollars signs forming in my ink.
Besides, it's us "impractical" majors that matter the most. Here's an easy example: English and creative writing majors write the scripts of those movies you love. Art students design the sketches and the props. Fashion majors design the costumes, and film majors throw it together into that major moving-picture that you love. But, didn't you say that all THOSE majors were all...what was the word? Impractical? Hmm....
So just keep that in mind. That every time you bash an English major for choosing her path in life, for berating a film major for choosing such a "useless field of study." You may think you're the one who's succeeding, but...
But at the end of the day, it's us who have a fire raging in our bellies. And, oh, we're the ones who are going to make it, BIG-TIME. Just you wait!
But for now, I'll take those hushed laughs, those petty words of discouragement. Because yep, I'm an English and creative writing major.
And yep, I'm pretty damn proud to be one.
