Anna-Catherine Kueng ~ Assistant Editor
When I was a child, most of my time was consumed with my mother reading to me or writing stories on my typewriter. Sometimes, they were not even my stories. I would copy my favorite books simply because I liked the way it felt to type.
In elementary school, I started writing journals, which led to writing poetry because I did not have the patience to write long journals. It was easier to just write short stanzas. However, as a child, I never thought about majoring in English. I did not even think about college very much. I just knew I would go one day.
During high school, reading and writing also took up most of my time. In my freshman year, I signed up for a journalism class. I had no idea how much I would grow to love it or that I would eventually become editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper.
Additionally, during my junior year, I started taking AP English classes. Whereas some people panicked over timed essays and multiple choice practice, I thrived under the stress. Also, when we got to make our own blogs for poetry analyses, I felt like a local celebrity.
However, at the end of my senior year, I was adamant that I was not going to major in English. Everyone wanted me to and perhaps that is why I was determined I was not going to become an English teacher like my older sister.
Two years later, and I am planning to be an English teacher when I graduate, so obviously I changed my mind. When I started at UL, I was a nursing major. I made a lot of nursing friends and we all talked about the hard work that was ahead of us.
Then, one casual afternoon, I logged onto my LC and declared a different major (I am still friends with some of my nursing peers). I texted my high school teacher and told her I was officially majoring in English and she said she knew all along. Also, my sister was so excited that I was following in her footsteps.
As an English major, I have learned a lot so far in college. I know I would have learned a lot as a nursing major, or any major really, but I enjoy my English classes. I get to read great literature and the textual analyzing skills I have gained can transfer over to other aspects of my life. On the other hand, being an English major is challenging as well. I have to write countless papers and do a lot of reading every day.
Overall, I am glad I was willing to take a risk and change majors. I know English majors often get the comment of “what are you going to do with that degree?”, but I am proud to be an English major, and I am even more excited to think I will one day get to teach it to students.
