As I have been in college this past year, I have been asked what my intended major is too many times to count. When I share that I am majoring in communication, I am often met with a judgmental chuckle, and some sort of snide remark about people majoring in communication as some sort of "easy way out."
This has always bothered me, for obvious reasons.
First of all, me choosing to take these classes, and to spend the next four years of my life working in this field, in no way affects anyone else. If this is the area I want to invest time in, then that is what I am going to do.
Second of all, when people say things like majoring in communication is the easiest major, and it is for people who still do not know what they want to do with their life, I tell them that I have loved writing ever since I was old enough to pick up a pencil and write. It has been an outlet for me in all different seasons of my life, and has helped me get through the best and worst of times. Writing has always been one of my strengths, and I have known for years that it is something I want to do. Yes, it involves the least amount of math, which I have never been good at, but that does not mean this degree is just an automatic. So, just because I am choosing this major does not mean I thought it was the easiest, or because I did not know what else to do. In reality, I chose it for the exact opposite reason.
Finally, when people say that you cannot make any money in this field, I would say that is not entirely true. The area of communication is so broad, with PR, advertising, journalism, risk communication, etc. You can find amazing jobs within this field. Besides, even if I do not make millions of dollars, I would rather wake up every morning loving what I do, and being excited about my work, rather than do a job I despise that makes me rich. At some point you have to figure out what is most important to you, and to me, that means doing the things I love, and that I am good at.
A degree is a degree, and the fact that people shame ANYONE that decides to take the step to go to college and to better themselves, and to get an education, is beyond me. Who cares what people want to choose to spend their time and money on?
I am proud of the fact that I am going to college and studying in an area I love, especially when I am attending Washington State University, a school that is known for their Communication major, and I will never apologize for that.
