“Communication Majors be Like ‘I can’t, I have a Conversation Due Tomorrow’”

Most Americans believe obtaining a college degree is important in our society. Today, you often meet people who don’t just have one degree; it’s common to meet others who have obtained their master’s or doctorate degrees. If you wish to become a doctor or lawyer, there are specific programs you must complete to be qualified in those fields. However, college in America is by no means cheap. Many are forced to get loans or financial aid to attend college. If you choose to obtain a master’s or doctorate degree, the price of classes only rises. Furthermore, law school and medical school cost a mint. 

Despite the incredibly high cost of college, 18.99 million Americans are currently enrolled in a university. When applying to a college, you must choose what study you want to major in. You have the option to declare your major as undecided, but you will eventually be forced to choose a specific field. When I was 17 and applying to colleges, this was an overwhelming task. I had so many ideas of what I wanted to do, and it felt nearly impossible to narrow it down to one major. Based on what major I selected, I would be taking classes pertaining to it for four whole years. In the grand scheme of things, four years seem rather insignificant. However, with the cost of college and the amount of coursework it requires you to do, those four years happen to be very important. 

From a young age, I found comfort in writing. It came naturally to me. I never struggled with writing assignments, and it seemed I never faced “writer’s block.” As a result, I decided to declare journalism as my major when applying to Florida Atlantic University. At the time, I thought being a journalist seemed interesting. I imagined myself traveling all around the world and reporting on pressing issues. Truthfully, I thought that was how many saw the job of a journalist. Sadly, I was mistaken. 

After starting college at FAU, I became the center of conversations with my older relatives and family friends. The question everyone wanted to know was, “What are you studying?” Every time I proudly responded with, “I’m a journalism major,” I received the same disappointed look. Most times, they would softly smile back and reply, “Oh, okay. That’s interesting.” But others would blatantly ask, “What are you planning to do with that?” To me, that felt like a silly question. What am I planning to do with a journalism degree? Become a journalist. Duh. 

At the time, I was unaware that what they wanted to hear was that I was studying to become a doctor or lawyer. I was told several times, “You can still change your major if you want. You can still go to law school.” But every time, it felt like a slap in the face. I chose to study journalism because I find it interesting. I can see myself content with writing for the rest of my life. And besides—didn’t they always tell us, “If you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life.” 

The sad reality is that when many tell you “money doesn’t buy happiness,” they’re lying. They may want you to think that when you’re a child, but as you grow into adulthood, money is the only thing you’re ever asked about. With so many negative responses to my future career path, I was urged to search, “how much do journalists make?” Everywhere I looked, I found moderate salaries. Of course, many professions pay more, but journalists can live off the amount they’re getting paid. After discovering this, it made me confused by all the “I hope you marry rich” remarks I had heard over the years. 

As a society, we need to understand that success looks different to everyone. Success isn’t always a big house, a flashy car, and a boat in your backyard. While all of these things sound amazing, not everyone has the same wants and desires. If I’m happy with where I am, I couldn’t care less about materialistic things that will only provide short-term happiness. Making money is nice, but being genuinely happy is even nicer. As a journalist, I may not sport a Birkin bag, but if I’m able to write on issues I’m passionate about, that’s good enough for me. 

It is not fair to shame students for their choice of major. All college students put incredible time and effort into getting their degrees. Not to mention, society needs there to be a diverse range of careers. We need teachers, musicians, and writers just as much as we need doctors, lawyers, and politicians. If journalists ceased to exist, who would you receive your news from? Twitter? Facebook? You might. But, journalism’s ultimate goal is to bring forth unbiased information about issues on local or global news. Some war reporters and foreign correspondents risk their lives to bring attention to overseas issues that may normally get swept under the rug. Next time you think about shading someone’s future career path, think about how important each and every career is. Without musicians, there’s no music. Without artists, there’s no art. 

As Robin Williams said in Dead Poets Society, “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, and engineering are noble pursuits necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love are what we stay alive for.”

"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."

Strike Out, 

Bella Kubach 

Boca Raton

Bella Kubach is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. Most of her free time is occupied by buying things she doesn’t need, reading her horoscope religiously, and making an endless amount of Spotify playlists. You can reach her at bellakubachxox@gmail.com