Being A Humanities Major At A School Known For Engineering
When I accepted my offer of admission to the University of Illinois’ English major, I never fathomed the imposter syndrome that would plague me throughout my freshman year.
For years, I thought anything unrelated to STEM wasn’t worthy of serious study. Even though I liked my English classes tremendously more than my math and science ones, I forced myself to only think of a science-related major for college and a science-related career.
When the time came for me to pick my major for college, I decided on English.
What prompted this major decision (pun intended)? I asked myself if I would want to get up and go to classes for a science major.
Obviously, I decided, no, I would hate taking science classes, and I chose to follow my heart and major in what I love.
Thus, I began a lonely first year where I unexpectedly struggled with my decision. Did I make the right choice?
Looking back a year later, I think, yes, I absolutely made the right decision.
For college students struggling with the same feelings I grappled with, I hear you. I see you. You’re not alone.
Majoring in the humanities at a school known for engineering is isolating. All of the friends I made my freshman year of college are STEM majors. Outside of your classes, it’s hard to find people within your major to socialize with. I thought I wasn’t smart enough since I was at a school known for engineering, and I debated switching my major to something STEM-related because I felt like my humanities major was insignificant. I felt small compared to my STEM major friends and questioned whether I even belonged at the University.
I’m here to remind you that you were admitted to this school for a reason. There was something in your application that made admissions officers think, yep, that major is so right for them.
Your capabilities are so much greater than your negative self-talk. You are smart; you just have different strengths. Can those STEM majors write a ten-page essay within a short period of time? Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and focusing on your weaknesses is what causes you to undermine your strengths.
Choosing to major in the humanities, despite living in a STEM-dominated world, expands your knowledge and deepens your understanding of the world around you. Your humanities major is what helps you think critically, write clearly, cultivate your mind, and allows you to “experience and embrace the notion of empathy, and seek lifelong learning” – something that employers look for.
If you feel like your STEM major friends are putting you down or making you feel insignificant because of your major, find other friends. Friendships come and go, and the people you meet won’t always become lifelong friends, especially if they’re putting you down. To find people and make connections with other students, join the clubs on campus! If you join a club related to your interests, you’re likely to find people who are majoring in a similar subject and share the same interests.
Just know that your confidence in your major will grow as you continue with your studies. For me, my confidence grew when I began to enjoy my assignments. Yes, being saddled with papers and deadlines was hard, but I would pick it over math or science any day. What I’m studying genuinely interests me and makes me want to go to class every day.
