Ashley
How do I know if a major is right for me?
Right now I am in community college, trying to sort my life out. I want to be a writer but I also want to teach, and do a million other things with my life, what do I do? #career #career-choice #major #english
5 answers
Mark Wagner
Mark’s Answer
Hi Ashley,
The community college is a very good school where you could learn what career would satisfy you the most. You might want to talk with a consultant or social worker. Writing? You could take a course in journalism? Then you could look for a job at a local newspaper, or online at Alternet, Raw Story, Daily Kos, Huffington Post or Mint Press. Writing for TV or films has become almost impossible. Also, you could write and publish a collection of poems, short stories, or write novels. Romances are always the best sellers, and Harlequin will always be looking for more. Writing allows you to express your thoughts and feelings and memories, even if the art and craft has only become a hobby. At least, you don't have to understand yourself by staring at a mirror or explaining your miseries to a psychiatrist.
Best wishes, Mark Wagner
Kim Gravell
Kim’s Answer
Another option to consider is to take the StrengthsFinder assessment. It will help you identify what strengths you possess naturally and what that means both personally and professionally. It is a great tool to make certain you focus on your strengths and utilize them to the fullest extent.
Kim recommends the following next steps:
Kim - Thank you for your answer. We need more advice like this, now more than ever! There are more than 1k unanswered questions on CV right now. Hoping you'll answer a few more this week!
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Felicia G Meadows
Felicia G’s Answer
H Ashley! I suggest that you go to www.mynextmove.org to take the career assessment. That will help narrow down your interests and give you some career options.
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
Look at your innate talents that are inherited from your parents and ancestors. You may sit a Myers-Briggs psychological profile to elucidate your strengths and preferences. We know our talents by what is easy for us and what sort of role we adopt in a work situation or social activity.
Some will be carers, others will be leaders, teachers; and probably there are classifications that we cannot quite fit on this page.
To determine if an English major is right for you, consider the following steps:
Explore Your Interests: Reflect on what you enjoy doing in your free time. Do you enjoy reading, writing, and analyzing literature? If so, an English major may be a good fit. However, if your interests lie elsewhere, it may be worth exploring other majors.
Research Careers: Consider the career opportunities available to English majors. While some English graduates go on to become writers or teachers, others find success in fields such as marketing, public relations, law, and journalism. Researching these careers can help you understand the skills and knowledge required and whether they align with your goals.
Talk to Professionals: Speak with professionals in the field to gain insight into their experiences and advice for students considering an English major. You can reach out to alumni from your college or university, attend career fairs or information sessions, or connect with professionals through LinkedIn or other networking sites.
Consider Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses when considering an English major. Strong writing skills and a love of reading are essential for success in this field. However, if you struggle with writing or have difficulty analyzing complex texts, it may be worth considering other majors or seeking additional support to build these skills.
Explore Coursework: Look into the specific courses required for an English major at your community college or intended four-year institution. This can help you understand what topics you will be studying and whether they align with your interests and goals.
Speak with Academic Advisors: Consult with academic advisors at your community college or intended four-year institution to discuss your options and receive personalized guidance based on your interests and career goals. They can help you explore different majors, identify potential career paths, and create a plan for achieving your educational objectives.**
Authoritative References Used:
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2021). College Navigator: English Language/Literature Programs - Bachelor’s Degree - National
Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov)
American Association of University Professors (AAUP). (n.d.). English Studies: A Guide for Departments & General Education - American
Association of University Professors (aaupnet.org)
National Writing Project (NWP). (n.d.). Careers in Writing: Opportunities Beyond Teaching - National Writing Project (nwp.org)
GOD BLESS YOU BECAUSE HE CAN AND WILL!
JC.
Ken Simmons
Ken’s Answer
Hi Ashley!
Help is nearby! The Community College is a great place to be. It is where I was able to put things together.
You are already paying for services which will help you very much. Here are some suggestions that have helped many!
- talk to the career counselor at your community college and arrange to take interest and aptitude testing and have the career counselor help you interpret them
- then with the results of the testing in mind, talk to the head of alumni relations at your community college to arrange to meet and visit graduates of that school who are doing what you think that you might want to do so you can see what they are doing, how they got there, and how you feel about it.
- arrange to participate in coop, intern, shadowing, and volunteer programs that will allow you to experience the inside career areas and develop important interpersonal relationships - many careers look much different on the inside than they do from the outside
Many times people who write do it as a hobby, at least to start, and work in another career area to make money. If you do a search for "Writing Groups North Brunswick" and "Writing Workshops North Brunswick", you will be able to link up with people with whom you have much in common and get some great information.
Let me know if and how this is helpful I would like to follow your progress. Keep me informed.