“Humanities majors are going to end up asking, ‘Do you want fries with that,’ while I’m figuring out the complexities of the universe.”
“You have it sooo easy. All you have to do is read articles and write essays. I have problem sets due every week.”
And my personal favorite: “You want to be a writer? Hmmm.” [gives look that plainly says, “You’re going to be living in a cardboard box.”] Well, new flash pessimistic downers, I amnot going to be living in a cardboard box. I’ll at least have enough sense to use Styrafoam. Jokes aside, though, some common myths about humanities majors need to be debunked. For the sake of sparing the feelings of all the fries, cardboard, and essays who get joked about all the time.
Myth #1: Humanities majors don’t end up with high paying jobs.
Well, unless you consider $650,000/yr (editor-in-chief of a New York-based magazine) a low paying job. Or $600,000/yr for being advertising director at Apple Inc. Okay, so you probably realize I’ve been manipulating the numbers (a skill I learned by being a humanities major.) But studies are coming out every year of how humanities majors are finding high paying jobs. And at the very least, even if your history degree gets you an average paying job but you love it more than anything, that still gets you the less material gain of a lifetime of happiness.
Myth #2: Humanities majors consist of fun and relaxing, and never have to worry about killer exams.
Ever try and write a thirty page short story worth 100% of your grade? One chance, one result? Oh, and the person grading that story has published more books than you care to think about and just finished taking a yearlong sabbatical in Siberia writing his next bestseller? That takes guts, let me tell you. Not to mention the bit of ‘light’ outside reading consisting of 13 novels (some up to 1,000 pages) that is meant to ‘inform’ your work over the semester. Or maybe you need to perform a 38-move stage combat sequence to be adjudicated by a professional stuntman who did the fight scenes for The Dark Knight, both Sherlock Holmes movies, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights? I can tell you, that stage combat final will be about as relaxing as trying to cram chapters 6-10 of that organic chemistry book into your head the night before the test. (I have taken both these classes; take this from experience.)
Myth #3: When students can’t do math or science, they cop out and become humanities majors.
Well… I can’t personally say math is my best friend, but just because I’m an English major doesn’t mean I lack a reasonable competence in Calculus. It just means I prefer reading Dickens to working out a multi-variable function. I know plenty of people, famous and otherwise, who have an aptitude for both sides of the coin. Rachel Carson—ever read her dissertation on DDT and other chemical pesticides that ravaged natural life after their usage in the 50’s? Silent Spring is poetic, emotional, daring, and scientifically based. Let’s see just any old tosser pull that off. My boy Hudson Maxim—the chemist who invented smokeless gunpowder—had a thing for free verse. He wrote a book called the Science of Poetry and the Philosophy of Language. Apparently there is a whole set of scientific laws that govern Shakespeare and Wordsworth’s works. Hot dang. It turns out the sexiest math and science applications are being applied to the humanities. So just stop and think a little before you call that English major a cop out.
Myth #4: Humanities majors have slim pickins’ in the job market after graduation.
I would actually argue the opposite. It’s true that getting a double degree in astrophysics and atmosphere dynamics will probably set you up with a highly specialized field job—maybe even working for NASA—but in that sense at least, you will be stuck. Humanities majors have more leeway to maneuver the job market. Skills in knowing your audience and writing? Those set you up for any job in publishing, teaching, or advertising. Good interpersonal and improv skills? You’re set for nearly any business, start-up, or marketing enterprise. Just plain creative vision and talent? Believe me, the job market has room for you—just find any megalopolis, pitch your ideas, and believe in yourself. Before you know it, offers will find you. The point is, you have a little artistic freedom here and actually a fantastic amount of leverage when looking for employment. Use it.
My dear collegiettes, whether you are a math, science, humanities, or undecided major, I believe in your future success. Just study what you love and don’t let what anyone says scare you from pursing your dreams. All it really takes is passion, persistence, and a little luck. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting with that dream job. Do what you love, and the money will come. Romantic and optimistic? Absolutely. Giving in to myths and pea-brained stereotypes? Not a chance.
Photo credits:
Dark Knight: http://www.pinoytechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/the_dark_knight_rises_wallpaper_8.jpg
Ryan Gosling Meme: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150567863268349&set=a.10150421715778349.384651.604153348&type=1&theater