All Majors Are Created Equal

By Feliz Moreno

Every time I tell someone that I am an English major I find that this person gives me "the look." This "look" reflects a couple of different sentiments that generally fall along the lines of, "why are you paying so much money to be an English major? What exactly are you going to do with that degree?"

I'm used to this reaction. I have gotten it since I was a senior in high school from teachers who thought I was too bright to waste my time studying literature, and  from relatives, neighbors and bosses.

I know that English majors are not the only ones who take heat for their chosen area of study. I have seen such degrading reactions shown towards anthropology, philosophy, ethnic studies, art and even psychology majors. It seems that no one believes that studying any of these majors is worth the trouble anymore.

However, whenever an engineer or business major tells people what they are studying, they hardly ever receive a skeptical, disapproving response. Their ability to find work after they graduate is never questioned, and people hardly ever ask them what they are planning to do with their degree. How does this make any sense?

I find it very frustrating having to justify my decision to be an English major to the whole world, and I'm sure many students in the various humanities and social science majors would agree with me.

First of all, just because I am not a physics or biology major does not mean that I am stupid or incompetent when it comes to more technical subjects.

I am studying English because I find it interesting and it is what I truly enjoy. I may not be terribly gifted in the areas of science or math, but just because someone is studying parts of organisms or solving quadratic equations does not mean that by default they are any brighter than I am. After all, I cannot tell you how many engineering students I know who don't know the difference between a subject and a predicate. All fields of study require hard work in order to become proficient in whatever it is they require a student to do or learn — whether it's how to write essays or how to build bridges. And with the job market looking the way it does these days, all students should be worried about the line of work they will be able to do with their degree, regardless of their chosen major.

Secondly, I would much rather attempt to spend the rest of my life doing something I really love than living miserably because I forced myself into a major that I knew would pay well post-graduation, but I wouldn't enjoy. I believe that as long as a person is willing to work hard at their line of study, then they will do just fine with the career path they choose. I have been fortunate enough to know people who share this perspective and decided to major in what they love most — be it art, sociology or ethnic studies — and they are now making fairly decent wages and doing things they can be proud of.

Finally, if you type "famous English majors" into any search engine, you will be surprised whose names turn up on the list. People like Pete Wilson (yes, the former California governor), Sigourney Weaver, Barbara Walters, Clarence Thomas, Sting, Steven Spielberg, Sally Ride, Paul Newman, Conan O' Brien and the list goes on . These are people who have impacted our society in a variety of ways, both big and small. The world needs people who are interested in what others may deem to be "extraneous" subjects; we make a difference even if other people don't notice.

If the English majors of the world do not take it upon themselves to write essays, discuss literature and revise interpretations of the world, who else will? I am proud to take on the responsibility, just as I am proud to be an English major.

Feliz Moreno is a sophomore English major and editor of the Opinion Section.