This article was originally published by The Daily in the Opinion section and can be found here.
*The Daily follows AP Style and journalism conventions with the exception of requiring the use of the Oxford comma.
I’ve found that I typically get three standard responses when people ask me what I study and I respond that I’m an English major. There is the ever-blunt “Why?” question, as in some version of, “Why on earth would you choose to do that?” There are the people who get that deer-in-the-headlights expression and say a quiet “Oh” right before changing the conversation to a topic they deem to be safer. And then there is the ever-popular line: “Oh, so you want to be a teacher?” (For the record, I don’t).
These reactions have never really bothered me. I know that people ask about my major as an icebreaker of sorts and that they respond the way they do because they care about me, or, if not me specifically, they care about my future.
Because I am not in a “trending” field of study (any of the STEM majors), people can’t automatically picture what my life will look like after college, be it in relation to career, finances, or living situation.
As graduation approaches, I’ve found myself becoming increasingly aware of how English majors are perceived, not only in society but on the UW campus in particular. So I want to offer up some observations on the future from my time as an English major at a predominantly research-oriented institution.
First of all, I’d like to say that the English major isn’t dying. It’s shrinking, yes, due to growing interest in STEM degrees and the increased volume of people pursuing higher education in general, but English and the humanities’ place in society is still as present as ever.
The stereotypical jobs still exist, from teachers to authors to public relations representatives, but many people fail to realize there are many other areas in which English majors excel. There are jobs in film and entertainment, from directors and screenwriters to agents and managers, as well as positions in marketing and business settings, to name a few.
And believe it or not, there are actually plenty of opportunities in the STEM field.
Tech companies are taking interest in hiring employees from non-tech backgrounds to create an atmosphere conducive for diverse ideologies. A humanities major with some knowledge of coding can succeed in a variety of technology-based careers.
Also, English is one of the top undergraduate degrees among students going to law school, and medical fields are seeing an increase in undergraduate English majors applying to health- related programs. English is an interdisciplinary field of study that can work in tandem with other disciplines, so as long as students complete pre-med coursework and score well on the MCAT, they are competitive with people who’ve earned a degree in the sciences.
Even the CIA recruits English majors to be publications officers at their headquarters in Langley, Va. The possibilities are endless and the opportunities are diverse.
I came into college not knowing what I wanted to study but fully aware of what I liked to do. The English major allowed me to hone those interests into life skills, giving me credibility and experience in analytical reading, creative writing, and critical thinking.
Unlike some fields of study, English does not necessarily provide specific job training, but it does provide life skills that translate well into a variety of professional settings. Part of why I love being an English major is that I cannot predict my future. I am not tied to just one type of position, and there will be a place for me in almost any field I decide to pursue. The rest is just hard work and dedication.
So to my peers and any prospective humanities majors, I want to tell you that even if an English degree is now the path less traveled by, it can set you up for personal and professional success. And that will make all the difference.
Maya Kanga 