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Changing my major?

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Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • January 27, 2016 at 9:02 am #93941
    Violet
    Participant

    I would recommend seeing a counselor at school. There are a number of tests that you can do to see where your strengths are and what would be good career opportunities that match your interests.

    I also suggest that whatever you do, to combine with some marketing/business courses, these are always useful skills. Also volunteering in areas where you’re interested in working can get you a better perspective in those fields and make contacts. I understand that your uncles likely have your interests at heart–money is important but at the end of the day do you want to be miserable because you’re doing something you tolerate with a big salary or something you love with a smaller one?

    January 27, 2016 at 9:12 pm #94014
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Aislynn:

    First, i wouldn’t talk to your uncles about choosing a major. Second: your interest in English- I can see how well you write, how clearly, detailed. I would do English and Writing and aim at writing for a living somehow: not clear myself. I don’t mean novels, but writing for a living. Joining groups of volunteers who go on missions to other countries and far away places to help people, you can join those groups as a writer, writing about the experiences there. Not clear, but you can help others (your passion) as a writer (your passion and you are good at it) and you get to go to far away places where your uncles will not rain on your parade!

    My ideas above are unbaked, but there may be something there for you!!!

    (I am excited!)

    anita

    January 27, 2016 at 11:02 pm #94025
    TriangleSun
    Participant

    There are many routes that you can pursue with writing, including writing for magazines, online publications, and blogs. As Violet already suggested, if you really want to branch out and make a good living in this area DO take some business/entrepreneurship classes. Once you get into an online or offline publication you can pretty much grow your network exponentially. In addition, you can start speaking at conferences to get your name out there and grow an even bigger network. Most of the speakers there are just regular folks like you.

    I also like Anita’s point on volunteering missions. There are A LOT of organizations doing this. Heck, even national geographic does this. Travel writing is very interesting and I think this is a great area to explore. Especially when it revolves around some kind of humanitarian cause. Couple that with some photography and you’ve got yourself a photo journalist. Another very interesting niche.

    If none of these work there is always teaching in schools and colleges!

    January 28, 2016 at 1:18 pm #94099
    Dina
    Participant

    Okay so I’ll admit I havent thoroughly read everything here, but if you’re considering english, know you can DEFINITELY make a living from it 🙂 I studied English Lit and am doing pretty well for myself as a project coordinator at my dream company.

    English skills come in handy in many places. If you’re passionate about it, give it a shot 🙂

    January 30, 2016 at 7:19 am #94301
    Aislynn
    Participant

    Violet- I will definitely try and take a business course or two in the future. That would definitely look good to a prospective employer and would help me establish myself independently if need be.

    Anita- “Joining groups of volunteers who go on missions to other countries and far away places to help people, you can join those groups as a writer, writing about the experiences there.” This sounds amazing!! Why didn’t I think of that? Aside from writing about the experience there, I could also help out, sounds perfect! I’m excited.

    TriangleSun- “I also like Anita’s point on volunteering missions. There are A LOT of organizations doing this. Heck, even national geographic does this. Travel writing is very interesting and I think this is a great area to explore. Especially when it revolves around some kind of humanitarian cause. Couple that with some photography and you’ve got yourself a photo journalist. Another very interesting niche.” Travel writing sounds amazing. I believe that would be a great fit for me. I would love to do photography. I love taking photos of people and places. I just didn’t think about how well it could go with writing. Thank you for that. I will definitely consider investing in a good camera and I might even take some photography classes.

    Dina- It helps to know that there are job opportunities for English majors. I know English comes in handy in many places. However, I expected them to want other qualifications. I am passionate about, so I will stick with it.

    Thank you everyone for your ideas. They greatly helped me. I won’t be changing my major. I love English, and I like the idea of doing travel writing. However, I know that even if that doesn’t pan out, that business courses might help me get employed elsewhere where my English skills will still be very useful.

    I guess I was afraid of not being employed if I majored in English. It’s something I constantly hear others say about English majors.

    January 30, 2016 at 9:52 am #94322
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Aislynn:

    You are welcome. I ended my comment in the other thread you started with the thought that I like to think of you as free, and indeed I do. When you choose your major, or choose to change a major only because of fear (of not being employed) you operate by fear which moves you away from being free.

    Employment should be a consideration but you have to consider your heart, your motivations, your anxiety level… all these things. As long as it is possible to make a living (and you do not require a lot of money, like to be filthy rich…) then you will be okay, I believe.

    anita

    February 1, 2016 at 7:37 am #94560
    Aislynn
    Participant

    Dear Anita,

    “When you choose your major, or choose to change a major only because of fear (of not being employed) you operate by fear which moves you away from being free.” This makes a lot of sense. By changing it, I am not allowing myself to be who I am or want to be. Rather, I am molding myself to be who I believe is best based on income opportunities and job prospects, and therefore I am caging myself up.

    Indeed, my anxiety level and my motivations played a big part in choosing my major.

    February 1, 2016 at 9:22 am #94574
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Aislynn:

    I wrote to you a little while ago on another thread how personally impressed I am with your writing. I am still sold on you majoring in English/ Writing…

    anita

    February 22, 2016 at 7:01 am #96742
    Tobi
    Participant

    Hi Aislynn,

    don´t let the payment of a certain career be an obstacle.
    You totally got me with your idea of forensics. The payment might be not very high in the beginning. But you will gain knowledge quickly, if you commit yourself to something you like doing. With enough knowledge in a specific field, new opportunities will open up.

    One of my engineer work buddies has downgraded his regular working time in his main job to 30 hours to get some spare time to pursue opportunities that opened up. He has built quite some knowledge over the years. And now he uses his new spare time to teach at local technician schools and from what i heard, he laso started writing a book.

    So don´t let money be the engine. Your personal interests will help you forge a great career, which might not be a single job…maybe 3 at a time 😀

    Just imagine you work in forensics, teaching your knowledge to others while you write your first crime novel

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