What It's Like to Be an English Major

Jordan Cady

One thing is for sure, that us English majors have a bad rap. We are constantly bombarded with questions like “What are you going to do with that degree in the future?” or “How do you enjoy writing so much?” or “Why would you even want to put yourself through that?” We get it, you do not understand why we chose this path but we do not understand why you chose yours either. But other majors do not get as much backlash as us English majors do. So, to clear some things up, here are all the reasons why we chose this eld.

Being an English major at Plymouth State is very ful lling, because there is no right or wrong answer, there is always a new way to look at a reading or a new way to write about something. There are no boxes in the English major, no one has to stay in between certain lines and nothing is set and stone. We become very good with change and reading into things (sometimes a little too much). We chose this path because we were the kids that always loved to read and write, the kids who hid under their blankets at bedtime with a ashlight reading the new Junie B. Jones books. It is our thing.

But not only did we choose this path because of our own interests but also because the English program here is so inviting. Marissa Vargas who is a Junior here at Plymouth State exclaimed “We have great caring professors, who go out of their way to help us with anything we need. After the past three years that I have been here, I have yet to meet an English Professor that I did not like.” The English professors are one of the most unique groups on campus, they are always excited about whatever book or theme they are teaching even if they have taught twelve times already. They make classes enjoyable but they also make students feel like they belong to a community rather than just a class. Another Junior at Plymouth State, Alex Dicentes states that “The English program really is like a family, we have outside of class get togethers, which include game nights, movie nights and hangout nights with professors and students alike. Everyone loves being around everyone, it is a pretty welcoming environment for any student.” The English professors take pride in the fact that they are so involved with their students and the students love that they are cared for so much. Which only makes classes and learning better.

The English program makes it so easy to make friends and connections with other people. Which takes the stress o the social anxiety part of classes. By week two in an English class the majority of the students in it have become friends already. Which makes classes very entertaining because everyone wants to participate. Not only are the professors extremely friendly but so are the students, we all support and su er with each other throughout the semester. You de nitely never feel alone being apart of such a tight net program. Nathan Theriault a Senior here at Plymouth State summed up the English major pretty perfectly by saying “I cannot stress this enough, we are a family rather than a major. I bet mostly everyone on campus has walked through the hub and seen a group of English majors taking up too much space in the Panther Grille. All while yelling and getting excited when an English Professor walks by. The Professors and student’s have great relationships and seem to talk like old friends. I'm an English Major because I love reading and writing but I also love the people who I meet in my major that enjoy it too.”

Yes, we are English majors and no, we may not know where we are going to end up in life once we get our degree. But what we do know, is that we love what we do and we love all the people that make our program what it is. So next time, anyone nds themselves questioning us, just know there is a lot more to us than just writing essays.