<pre><code> I am wondering if any of you could give me any advice. I’m not sure what to major in. I thought I wanted to do English, but this semester, after attending the first day of a literature course I’d signed up for, I quit the course. Perhaps I didn’t give the class enough of a chance, but I had a bad feeling about it, and that day a feeling of dread set in me in regards to majoring in English, as well. Listening to the large amount of reading that the course required made me not want to take the course and made me reconsider the whole idea of being an English major. I’ve been going through my first few years of college thinking I’d major in English. I met with a college counselor over the summer, and we mapped out the rest of the courses I’d need to transfer to a university as an English major. (FYI, I am still taking general education classes at a community college.)
The reasons I have been thinking of majoring in English are because I have always been a strong writer and have been skilled at dissecting and analyzing lit. And once I read literature, I usually get into it/enjoy it (haha). However, I prefer reading short works, such as short stories and poetry. Long works overwhelm me and fill me with dread, as I am a very slow reader…I really like to understand all the words I am reading and digest them, so to speak. I’m not trying to sound vain, but just so you’re aware…my English/Lit/Creative Writing teachers while in college have commended me for the high quality work I turn in, and one suggested I pursue an MFA/Ph.D. in English. Part of me thinks I have the aptitude to be an English major and go to grad school for English, while the other part of me thinks that the great amount of reading required is going to be a particularly unpleasant challenge.
Still, I could get over that if I really wanted to major in English…..but I feel as if I am losing my drive to do so. I don’t know if I am psyching myself out, but there’s a sense of resistance I feel in my heart about being an English major. I’ve actually never felt confident when people ask me my major and I respond with “English.” On the other hand, I feel like I might be a little disappointed in myself if I don’t become an English major, because I could go far within the field if I dedicate myself to doing so. But perhaps part of this disappointment in myself actually comes from me thinking OTHERS will be disappointed in me for not pursuing English…I feel like it’s expected of me. I don’t know. I am very confused.
I LOVE writing poetry and quite enjoy writing short stories, too. As I stated earlier, I also prefer reading poetry (poems of shorter length as opposed to epic poems) and short stories as well—a good deal more than longer works of fiction. I’ve been considering majoring in Creative Writing. I know that I don’t have to major in Creative Writing to be a creative writer. I know that it’s not the most practical of major. But it’s something that seems more appealing to me than an English major or a Literature major. At the same time…isn’t Creative Writing going to be rather similar to English? One difference is that there’ll be a substantial amount of workshopping of peers’ work done in classes, correct? And the assigned readings will be relatively short poems, stories, and plays…correct?
I’m sorry if I sound whiny. I know I need to accept the fact that college is hard work. Also, I am very blessed to be in college, and to have parents that will support me no matter which major I choose.
I suppose part of the trouble is that I don’t want to surrender myself totally to a Creative Writing or English major and give up dancing. I love to dance and have been dancing throughout my years at community college. This semester, I am dancing the most I’ve ever danced and have been expanding my horizons beyond ballet (which I love the most and have had the most experience with). Perhaps I could be a dance minor. Perhaps I could even be a dance major. The thing is, I don’t know if I should be a dance major because I haven’t had hardcore dance training in my life. Yes, I have several years of ballet training—done mostly in high school and in college—but it wasn’t hardcore training done every day. Rather, it was recreational training (though in my college years, I have gotten more serious and have put in a substantial amount more time dedicated to dancing). Another problem with majoring in dance is that I have more limited experience in styles other than ballet…I do have some talent, however, and am a hard worker. Moreover, I really love dance and can’t imagine my life without it.
I am just very confused right now.
Would it help if I told you what I love to do/what I dream of doing? Ok, here I go. I love writing poetry and short stories, and would like to write and publish a pet name book one day. I am planning to start a blog soon, because every day I go about my adventures, and when something funny or interesting happens to me, I think of how I’d retell it in a narrative blog format. I enjoy helping others, and currently work as a writing tutor. Choreographing dances and dancing/performing in general are very enjoyable for me, and I love to spend my time doing these activities. I have developed a particular affinity for Disneyland recently and think about working for Disneyland as a blogger or social media person. (However, I’m not sure if I’d really want to work there, and am not sure if their social media job duties/requirements really suit me.) I’ve volunteered at my local animal shelter in the past. There, I’ve taken photos and videos of the animals, named them, posted their photos and videos to pet adoption websites and social media, advertised the adoptable pets further through social media, e.t.c. I really enjoy social media and using pictures/words to promote things/tell stories. (At the same time, don’t think that I want to be a photographer, though I love taking pictures for fun….I thought I wanted to be a photographer in the past but after trying out a photography class, I found I wasn’t particularly suited to it.) I’ve thought about doing Journalism, but working on a newspaper and writing about current events/politics doesn’t appeal to me. Also, I am an INFP personality type, if that helps…
I’ve written a great amount here…thank you to all who read this. If anyone has any words of advice or ideas to offer me, I’d greatly appreciate your input. Thank you very much.
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