Why I Choose English Literature as My Major?

I have always been baffled about why the English major gets such a bad reputations. Perhaps this is because it’s an open-ended degree that requires the recipient to ask him or herself, “what would I like to do with these skills I have acquired?” rather than existing as a degree with a built-in career path like marketing, finance, or real estate. I chose to become an English major for multiple reasons. The first and foremost reason was because English has always been a favorite subject of mine, one I felt was a strong point for me. The English classes offered at Gunadarma University helped me decide as well. There are a lot of good professors who make English fun. For me, the decision to study literature has been a struggle. I always enjoyed reading and being read to, but I always considered the actual study of literature to be made up; seriously, poets don’t actually try to “invoke” some other work. Literary devices? Some make-believe stuff that people invented to make English seen scientific. Although I enjoyed it, literature, to me, was studied only by those who weren’t smart enough to study something real, something provable. The other reasons why I chose this major is, when I was a kid used to watch some western movies, like Harry Potter, the Chronicles of Narnia, etc. I started to love these movies and I addicted to learn English more. So when I’m in school, from the elementary school I used to like writing and reading in English. So, when I was graduated from senior high school, I choose the English Literature as my major in Gunadarma. The English department has the most down to earth, creative, and individualistically unique instructors and professors that any one student could ever hope for. I have not yet met one English instructor/ professor or instructor of the Classic studies that has not captured my interest in the area of their studies, which is a hard task even if you are an honor student such as myself. Another great reason and this is a BIG part of it, on why I chose this major is for the broad selection of career opportunities upon completion of my Bachelor’s, and even better selection if I continue on to get my Master’s in English. For example, I could choose journalism, work for a publishing house for books and magazines, be an instructor at a university level, wedding and event coordinator, be a critic like Siskel and Ebert, be an author like Stephen King, and the list keeps going. I want those diverse options for myself, and felt that any other major would limit my career selection. Overall, as an English major, I finally feel complete and know that there is a successful career waiting for me in the future!