one of the worst things about being an english major is that everyone asks, "so, what are you going to do with that?" i usually just say, "no idea," because it's true. they say the same thing about how i'm applying to grad schools: "so, what are you going to do after grad school?" still, no idea. i didn't choose this major based on what i wanted to do with it. i chose to major in english because i LIKED it. and i still do like it. i didn't choose it because i thought i would be able to start making money from it as soon as i graduated. it would be nice if i really loved nursing or chemical engineering and wanted to major in either of those, because then i would be assured of some kind of job when i graduated, but i don't love those things, so i'm not studying them. but let me tell you--i didn't choose english because it was easy. it's not, not if you're doing it right.
some people (probably most people) at BYU look at their education as something to get through so that they can get into the work force and start making money. they complain about their GE classes and major in business management so that they look like they're going to become contributing members of society. which really is fine, but doesn't mean that everyone has to do that.
i think that education should not be meant only to increase your earning power in the marketplace. it should expand your mind, improve your ability to think critically, introduce you to new ideas and concepts you never would have encountered otherwise. you should be able to think about moral, ethical, political, social issues and decide your own stance on them, based on all of your available information. education should help you to not only be a monetarily contributing member of society, but also a CRITICALLY THINKING and ETHICALLY INDEPENDENT member of society--someone who can make their own decisions based off of what you believe and you alone.
but most of all, you should love your education. if you don't love it, you're probably not studying the right thing. that's why i'm majoring in english and (hopefully) going to grad school to study it some more, not so that i can "do" something with it.
3 comments:
You tell them, Alyse!
I get that a lot with my major too... what to do with art history? not sure yet but I'm loving studying it and that's all that matters right now.
i would like to develop this idea deeper with you.
we can turn it into a giant book and sell it.
that's what we'll "do with it".... i get it with my major too.
but it's usually the second question i get asked.
the first is:
"american studies [confused stare]? what's that?"
Post a Comment