Personal Reflection · Writing

A Secret

Herminia Chow

Do you want to know a secret?

It’s about me, of course. I would never spill anybody else’s.

I guess it won’t be a secret after you read this post.

If we were face to face right now, I would lean in closer, cup my hand around my mouth, and whisper into your ear:

So I think I secretly want to be an English major. But I’ve been telling people I want to major in journalism. Not that I don’t want to major in journalism. It’s just I feel my first love will always be English, which probably explains my less than stellar grades in other language courses. But that’s a story for another time.

22 thoughts on “A Secret”

  2. University only lasts so long. Have you thought about what you want to do after? Have you looked at the market for potential careers?

    I know people get into journalism to become a journalist, but you might need to think about realistic alternatives (I’m not saying you wouldn’t be great at it, I’ve just heard that journalism is dead).

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    1. That’s true. I have thought about my future and potential careers after university. The thing is I want to major in something I’m passionate about before going to law school. Mmm interesting. Other people might think that journalism is dead, but I don’t feel that way personally.

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      1. Many people misinterpret the phrase, and think it means “people aren’t reporting stuff anymore”. Quite the opposite: it’s just that most reporting is heavily biased (but you could argue that endlessly), and that you might need to sell your passions to get paid.

        So it’s not as glamorous as it used to be, and many people doubt the authenticity of reporting in general.

        But if you REALLY care (and passions are always subject to change!), then don’t listen to anyone telling you otherwise!

        I wish you the best of luck.

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      2. Mhm. I mean they are a few journalists who aren’t that biased. 😉 And I hope to be one of those few. It’s a lot to think about.

        True, especially with the evolution of social media and technology.

        Yes. Passions change. People change.

        Thanks. All the best to you.

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  3. Majoring in English will help you become a good writer and a critical thinker. And you can do a bunch of jobs related to English or pursue a graduate degree. Journalism is a narrow field, and it requires you to get acquainted with a lot of media outlets, learn how to make videos, take photos, and so on. I heard from a journalist once that to be a good journalist, you need to major in English, nothing else. I haven’t known yet if she is right, but for me, that’s what I have learned so far.

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    1. Yes, it’ll help me be an even better writer and critical thinker. True, journalism can open some doors, but it closes many at the same time. The more I think about that, the more I feel she may have a point. Majoring in English is not equivalent to a major in journalism, yet an English major would probably make for an incredible journalist.

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  4. I had a similar secret. In high school, English was always my best subject, but I chose a very different major. I ended up switching to English Lit in my first year of University, and I loved it. I don’t know yet if I made the right decision, but I love English so I don’t regret it.

    If it’s something you’re really passionate about, it’s definitely something to consider, though it is hard to make decisions that are so important to your future. Sometimes it’s difficult to choose between your head and your heart. It’s a shame that they are so rarely on the same page.

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    1. I’m so happy to hear you loved and enjoyed it. In all honesty, I think you made the right decision. You did a major in something you’re passionate about, and I have a feeling you did very well.

      Agreed. It’s a shame so few listen to their heart as well. We’d be much happier if we did. Then again, people like feeling a sense of security and safety.

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  5. I’m majoring in English with a concentration of English Studies. It was supposed to be Creative Writing, but with all the side classes and such l had to take l didn’t have enough CW credits to technically have a concentration in it. Which is kind of a lame excuse, but whatever.

    I don’t know how your schools do it, but my school is English with a concentration of… ES, CW, Journalism, or Literature. If that’s the case with your schools, you can probably try out different courses and see which ones you like best.

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    1. Oh, what a bummer. You’re one of the best creative writers I know.

      Now I wish I went to a school like yours. But I’ve been thinking of doing something similar. I could major in English and I could minor in Writing and Rhetoric. It’d be a lot of writing, but it wouldn’t be too bad.

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  7. I echo what everyone else says – English is broader than journalism, and if you like English more, that’s likely a better bet for you.

    However, I’m a practical person. I’m the writer who got a chemistry degree because I enjoy security and a steady income. My friends who majored in English? Either teaching (which is fine, as they all desired to be teachers) or working in fast food. So…they’re basically no closer to being novelists than I am. 😉 But you are a smart, determined young lady, so I’m sure you’ll be light years ahead of the curve. I know you’ll put any degree to good use.

    Just keep the market in mind, but also keep in mind how willing you are to move in order to find work, etc. Do you want to be an English teacher? Do you want to be a journalist? A technical writer? A literary agent? Those jobs are hard to come by, but at least they’re out there and an English degree would qualify you. They’re also non-creative, which is a good thing – beware the risk of turning something you love into something you hate. I know that I continue to love writing because my rent doesn’t depend on it. When you turn creativity into a career, you often have to turn on you muse against your will, you have to do projects for other people that you aren’t passionate about, etc.

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    1. I agree with you.

      Ah, you’re a genius in chemistry. I’m not. If I do major in English, I wouldn’t mind becoming a teacher. Fast food is a different story. I’m sure one day you will be. Aw thank you.

      I’ll keep that in mind. Hmm I feel I’d be perfectly happy with any of those jobs even though all of them are like you said, hard to come by. The industry is extremely competitive as well. True true. I realize I may have to complete projects I’m not too passionate about, but if I’m writing, at the very least, I’d be content.

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      1. I’m really not a genius in chemistry, lol. I’d never even taken chemistry before I majored in it. I fell squarely in the middle of my college class, doing lower-percentile to average. But I was competent enough, I suppose, and I do enjoy it enough.

        So, only consider “practical” alternatives if you legitimately tolerate them. It worked for me, but I would never advocate for someone majoring in something they hate just for money. Like, I can’t imagine having majored in something like business or geology – so boring to me! So while I have bigger dreams than my degree suggests, I ultimately did not compromise my happiness. And you shouldn’t either 😉

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      2. Oh, so chemistry wasn’t a prerequisite for your program? Our schools require students to take a few science courses prior to letting you major in it. That’s good.

        Okay, I will. Yeah I can’t imagine myself majoring in something I don’t enjoy even if it guarantees me a stable job and good money. Ahaha I second that! I’m happy to hear you didn’t compromise your happiness. It looks like things worked out for you. I won’t. Thank you so much for all the advice and your time. 🙂

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  8. Go for it! Maybe you could minor in journalism? Or double major?
    I wish I had had the guts to major in English and do something with it. Alas, alack, I took the “safe” way and pushed my first love of writing and reading aside to work a stable job that pays the bills, but it’s not something I love.
    Do what you love, girl. You’ll never regret it.

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