We’re all familiar with the questions “What are you majoring in?” or “What do you want to do with your life?” that we constantly receive from parents, friends, and relatives. These questions are like nails on a chalkboard, and they are the bane of every collegiette’s existence as she tries to find her own little niche in the world, when all she really wants to do is hunker down with a Cool Beans coffee and watch Netflix. Even once you have decided what is the best major for you, you are then haunted by the possibility of being stuck in that field for the rest of your life. However, a liberal arts degree from Holy Cross is probably one of the most useful – and flexible – degrees you could ever earn. The five following alumni are some of the best examples of how you can take advantage of the flexibility that your degree from Holy Cross allows you. Whether they majored in English, Art History, Biology or Sociology, these alumni truly understood the freedom they were awarded when they decided to attend such a remarkable school.
- Erika Bearman, Class of 2003Major: English, with a minor in Art History and a concentration in Women’s StudiesDespite the fact that she graduated just over a decade ago, Erika Bearman has found outstanding success in the fashion industry – a field she had never planned on exploring. Bearman is currently the Senior Vice President of Global Communications at the prestigious fashion house of Oscar de la Renta. You could probably say she has scored every girl’s dream job, yet she didn’t even study fashion in college. Instead, Ms. Bearman was an English major with an interest in art, which just goes to show that a broad spectrum of study can lead you to every corner of the world when it comes time to find a job.
- Frank Carroll, Class of 1960Major: SociologyFrank Carroll is a native of the lovely Woo and attended HC in the late ‘50s. His degree in Sociology didn’t hold him back from becoming one of US Figure Skating’s most famous coaches of all time. Carroll has coached some of US Figure Skating’s best, from the likes of Michelle Kwan to 2010 Men’s Olympic Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek to the current skating phenom Gracie Gold. So, if you’re worried a sociology major may shorten your list of possible jobs, just remember that if he could become a figure skating coach then you can do something amazing too!
- Susan Jurevics, Class of 1989Major: Visual ArtsSusan Jurevics used her HC degree in visual arts to land the most magical of positions: CEO of the online wizarding site, Pottermore. Jurevics is now currently based in London and works closely with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to provide an online extension of the insanely popular book series to fans. So if it’s your dream to become a wizard, Holy Cross can help get you there!
- Peter Jankowski, Class of 1986Major: HistoryWe have all heard of and possibly binge-watched the legal drama series, Law & Order, but did you know that the mastermind behind this renowned TV show is a fellow graduate from Holy Cross? Peter Jankowski is a 1986 HC grad who has a BA in history, yet ended up in Hollywood. If it’s your dream to walk the red carpet like you own the place then just take Jankowski’s lead, major in what you are interested in and maybe we’ll see you up on stage accepting your award for some outstanding feat among the stars.
- Carolyn Risoli, Class of 1986Major: HistoryLike her classmate Peter Jankowski, Carolyn Risoli is another History major from Holy Cross who ended up in a field completely separate from what her degree may suggest. Instead of getting chummy with long gone presidents and studying the battlefields of past wars, Risoli found her niche in the fashion industry as the president of the well-known fashion house, Marc Jacobs. She managed to use her background from HC to trade archives for stilettos, and she shows us just how versatile our own degrees from HC will be!If you’re still unsure about what your own major should be, just follow the lead of these five fantastic alumni and go for what you love. If an interpretive dance major is in your cards, do it! Who knows, maybe you could still be the President one day and help sashay America into a new golden age!