Dragonflies, Butterflies & Lady Bugs

Thinking About the Major

I don't have to make a decision until the end of the fall semester, but I'm thinking about my major. When I left ASU seven years ago, it was Women's Studies. I've been thinking quite a lot about English Lit, about possibly teaching high school or college. I thought maybe I'd get an idea this summer. Right now, midway through my classes, here's what I know: I love English lit. It's fun, I like to think I'm pretty good at it. I get to write a lot and talk to people who love literature as much as I do. I see parallels in historic lit and our current world and think it's important stuff -- why don't we learn from our past? On the other hand, the Women's Studies work really fires me up, makes me feel like seeking a career where I can work these social justice issues. I am passionate about these issues in a deeper way than I am about good literature, though I'm pretty passionate about that too.

I'm not sure how hirable I'll be with a Women's & Gender Studies degree. English Lit affords me the luxury of teaching, either at the high school or college level, and that sounds like fun. Working with young people is appealing. But to work for a social justice cause in some way -- maybe in the kind of job my affinity-mate Jesse has, working with college campuses -- that really appeals to me, in the scary-growing-edges kind of way. I'd love input on things to consider. I'd love to hear from teachers about what it's like to teach -- especially considering I don't like having to keep my spiritual life super-secret -- and I'd love to hear from social justice workers how their jobs fulfill them and whether they pay enough to help support a family of four. Comments?

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