There seems to be an undeserved stigma against any major that isn’t engineering or pre-med. Most seem to think that any other major won’t lead to a successful career, or they think that we only chose our prospective majors to have an “easy” four years in college. Neither of these is true, and I (along with other journalism majors, I’m assuming) am sick of hearing these 11 things.
1. “What kind of job are you going to get with a journalism degree?”
Am I the only one that’s ever been taught that your major doesn’t equal your career? While I think writing for a magazine like Cosmopolitan would be the best job ever, I’m not dead set on it. I plan on succeeding in school, getting involved in outside organizations and having at least one internship. Maybe I’m just confident, but I know that if I’m an ambitious student, I’ll have the means to kill any interview I receive when I graduate — journalism related or not.
2. “Yeah, but you have a fake major.”
I’m sorry, but what does this one even mean? I have real classes, assignments, responsibilities and goals just like every other major. I’m enrolled at the University of Florida, so I don’t think my major can be “fake.”
3. “What work do you even have to do?”
See the above point. Just because I don’t have pages of math problems doesn’t mean I don’t have work to do every day. Never mind my classes, I’m trying to build up my resume, which means writing articles weekly for Her Campus UFL and other publications.
4. “I hope you like not making any money.”
This one always makes me laugh. While I’m sure I likely won’t ever make as much money as you engineer or pre-med majors (although I also won’t be in debt for years after med school), I know I will do just fine for myself. I’m passionate about my major and excited about my future career, so I truly believe that I will be able to work my way up to a job that I not only love, but that also pays just fine.
5. “Oh, you’re a journalism major? So, you want to write for a newspaper?”
No. I mean, maybe, but that’s not the only possible option for me. Also see point 1.
6. “There’s no way you’re stressed. You don’t even have to take Organic Chemistry and Calculus 5 and Biology 10.”
Every major is difficult in different ways. I get stressed out just like the next student but about different things. Even though I don’t have to take any math or science, I have classes that are just as challenging.
7. “Will you write my paper for me since you like writing?”
Yes, people have actually asked me this before. There are several issues with this one: 1) I enjoy writing about things that I like to write about, 2) I don’t have time for that and 3) I don’t write research papers for fun.
8. “This 1,000-word essay is going to be the death of me!”
Aw, you have one 1,000-word essay for the whole semester? I have a class this semester that has a 750-word discussion post once a week. That’s one class. I think you’ll survive.
9. “Did you pick journalism because you’re bad at math and science?”
Nope. I’m actually really good at math and science, but I’m just as good at writing, and I enjoy it. I want a career I love, not one I dread going to every day.
10. “Oh, I don’t like watching/reading the news.”
How can you not like knowing what’s going on in the world you live in? Being informed about current events in our country and around the world is so important in my opinion, and I love that journalism is the bridge for communication to the people.
11. “I wish I was a journalism major.”
I don’t think people mean this to be offensive, yet it’s usually said with the connotation that being a journalism major would make life so much easier, but he or she is just TOO smart for that. If you actually had an interest in journalism, you could be a journalism major, too.
Yes, these 11 things have all actually been said to me at one point or another, and I’m over it. Let’s stop saying them and love/appreciate/support our journalism majors instead.