As an English major, I spent almost three years of my four-year degree fielding the same questions from my more STEM-minded peers: “What are you going to do with that, though? Do you want to be an English teacher?”
Dear reader, I stood my ground! I regurgitated the career-building Q & A’s that my college offered. I recited our talking points. There are plenty of career options open to English majors! Still, the same questions would resurface: “I think I’d feel more comfortable knowing that I’ll be able to support myself with my degree, or get a job” (ouch!). “You know it’s impossible to get a job as a professor these days.” “You’d better hope you marry someone rich.” “They’re saying now that most writers fail within their first year.”
My friends studied chemistry, biology, or computer science. They spoke about six-figure job opportunities right after graduation and the importance of making practical choices in the job market. Mostly, they implied that their degrees were more challenging and rewarding than mine. They asked if I was ‘thinking about law school, then?’ You hear the same discouraging questions and give the same resilient responses and root for yourself.
English majors are not as useless as people subconsciously perceive them to be. They give you the ability to read closely, discuss openly, and think critically; skills that will serve you in many careers. However, the important question for many lingers. What if you don’t want just any career? What if you want the career?
You’ve seen the numbers. Your dad probably sent you a couple New York Times articles about how poetry is dead. But you’ve also admirably watched Dead Poets Society, Little Women (or read it, if you’re better than most of us), Misery and even read Normal People. And still you thought Connell seemed fun and Jo seemed to have it all figured out. Nothing goes poorly in Dead Poets’ Society. All of these masterpieces serve as inspiration to think, “Ok, I can do it too!”
So, I’ve taken my nearly five years of expertise and written you a useful guide to navigate your creative career. Just follow the lines, and you will be on your clear path to make it in showbiz. Remember: avoid common pitfalls, grab the money wherever it appears, and leave your artistic integrity at the door!
Click here to follow along and find out your future!
Of course, it isn’t about the money, the fame, or the movie star parents you may or may not have. It’s about your love and passion for writing. It’s about the stories that grip you. It’s about reading something fantastic and that feeling of utter jealousy and the thrill that writing gives you. It’s about just wanting to be at the table.
Just keep writing. You’ll be fine. It helps to laugh every once in a while, too.
Good luck!