Memoirs of an English Major

“I’d take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day” - Douglas Adams

After looking at today’s stats, I noticed that I got a recently from a search engine by someone who search the term “English Major” and this got me thinking that I have not posted anything describing my trials and tribulations on my life as an English Major. So starting with this post, I will begin each Monday talking about my time as an English major and how it is I became to be one. I’ll start with one caveat in that I wasn’t the best college student one could be, but I won’t be talking about how one writes a A+ paper on these posts. More so, I’ll end up talking about my life as one in the major, answering any and all questions and comments. Though I did not go to a top school in Rhetoric and Composition, my alma mater has a great English department and one that I perfectly fit into. But, how is it that I, originally slated to be in Management Information Systems and computer work, became one of their ranks? In this first post, I will explain as to how I even became an English major and it might surprise you as it did my mother, family, and friends.

So this story begins way back in my junior year of high-school. I had applied to a local college in Michigan meant for Engineering. I have always been into computers and technology in one form or fashion. One of these days, I’ll post on my ROM hacking escapades and such. In any case, my original plan was to become a computer programmer or IT person, but I got declined from the university. So, come senior year, it turns out that we were moving to Laredo, TX that next year, where I applied and was accepted into Texas A & M International University. I entered the college as an Management Information System’s major, still on my IT path. Everything seemed fine… until English Comp 1302 and things took an interesting turn

As stated, I am a computer person. During that year, I had one of the more prominent geek icons on my hat : Tux, the Linux mascot (I still miss that hat). In any case, this is where I met probably the one teacher that has had some much impact on my life as it stands now. That teacher was Dr. Sean Chadwell. As I was sitting in class, he looked at my hat and said “Hey Linux.” Let me set this up a bit better. Before this time, no one had even known what the hell was on my head. None of the computer people in my degree had a clue, and here an English professor not only knew of the icon, but I would soon realise was one of the two people on campus running the OS in a Windows environment, with no tech support. In any case, it was sort of strange to hear this, but at the time I only put a little bit of stock into it.

Also this semester was to mark my first business classes, which I hated. I’m a computer person, this is very true, but I am the farthest person from business. I hated my classes so much, that I would simply stop going to them, dropping them later on, all the while enjoying my English class. It was very strange for me, as I had never even considered an English class in any sort of shape.

So then my Sophomore year rolls around and I was going to sign up for another English class, but it turned out that I didn’t have any Englishes classes left. I was so distraught as I couldn’t take any more and I began to consider switching majors. However, I had no clue as to what to do and how to go about it. Some may call this fate, others a fluke occurrence as to the next words I write here, but which ever it is, it was extremely uncanny.

I was walking on campus, trying to figure out what to do. As I walked to library, I see none other than Dr. Chadwell. We began to converse and he asked me what I was going to take next semester. I began to tell him that I was considering switching to an English degree plan, but didn’t know how to go about it. Without any hesitation, he offered to advise me, right on the spot. I mean, the situation was perfect. I had some one not only to advise me, but some one who understood my situation and a person I could look to for at least some sort of commonality in my degree. After some time, we figured out my degree plan: a BA in English , with a minor in MIS. Yes, I know this is the strangest degree combination, but hell, YT here is essentially that.

Anyone out there considering switching majors as drastically as I did, now is the time to begin taking notes at this moment. For what I am going to tell you will help you when it comes to discussing this sort of thing with the parents. First and foremost, have a plan of attack ready. Have any facts you know on the degree and handy and make your case very clear. In my situation, I had to convince my mother as to why I wanted to switch and such. The way I formed my argument was through citation of my business class woes and keeping my current degree as a minor. What I learned then is that I already had the basic skills of an English major down : making a case and defending it, no matter how crazy it may be. In any case, she accepted me and now goes on record saying it was the best decision I had made.

In any case, that is my back story on my degree in a nutshell. I hope this has been helpful in establishing what it is I plan to discuss. I’ll leave the floor open to any sort of comment on this as I think I can at least be helpful in relating my experiences. In any case, till next time, may you too find what makes you happy in life.