If you’re an English major, you’ve probably heard the standard response from basically all non-English majors.
You: “I’m an English major.”
Them: “Oh, so you’re going to be a teacher?”
Sigh…
I have nothing against teachers or the profession. In fact, actually worked as a teacher at a private school for a while (middle and high school). In many ways, it was one of the best jobs I ever had… but at the same time, it solidified the knowledge that I did not want teaching to be my forever job. Students deserve someone passionate about teaching, and that was never my goal.
Another common response is the assumption that you will be broke for the rest of your life because “English majors don’t make any money.”
I started feeling discouraged.
I heard these things constantly, and it was really disheartening. I almost chose not to study what I loved most because of the negative reactions. It wasn’t until a year before I graduated that someone finally told me there is more to an English degree than most people give it credit for.
It’s one thing to read a list of possible careers with an English degree, but I felt more impacted receiving a list of real people with real success.
10 Famous People With English Degrees
English degrees do not limit your career options. You can write, get into politics, become a psychologist, become the CEO of a tech company, and more.
Here are # people who prove an English degree doesn’t limit you to teaching.
- Andrea Jung, Former Avon CEO
- Michael Eisner, Former Walt Disney Company CEO
- Susan Wojcicki, YouTube CEO
- Jack Ma, Alibaba Chairman
- Stephen King, Author (does this surprise ANYONE?)
- Emma Watson, Actress and Activist
- Mitt Romney, Politician
- B.F. Skinner, Psychologist, author and behaviorist
- Sting, Musician
- Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Read “Why I Chose to Major In English” to learn my story.