Because then I wouldn't get those damn questions...What's your degree? Why did you get that? Do you want to teach? Why not? What did you plan on doing with that? Why aren't you doing anything with it?

*pulls out hair* Someone please tell me they've gotten this annoying barrage of questions before.

I'm so tired of it. Truth is, I got an English degree because it was my 3rd major, I'd been going through a series of panic attacks and almost flunked out of school, I like fiction writing, I've always been good at English so it was an easy major, and I WANTED THE HELL OUT OF COLLEGE. My 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years were total hell and I just wanted out. Like I said, English was easy and it didn't require an internship. And I never wanted to teach, so I didn't get a teaching endorsement. I work at a school and I like it. The kids like me too; I've made good relationships with many of them. But I don't think I could teach or be in charge of a class for more than a half an hour.

Anyway, today I got those questions 3 freakin times. Do I have to go back to school just to prove something to these people?? What kind of success do I have to be for THEM?? Screw the fact that I'm fairly happy at my job. I love the fact that it's not sitting at a desk for 4 hours, lunch, then four more hours. I did that and it was hell on my mental state. I need to be up, moving around and doing something new every hour or so; I have panic attacks sitting in the same place for 4 hours, staring at a clock. I've thought about getting a CMA; I think working with kids in a pediatric clinic would be rewarding. But, that would require more school. I'm tired of school. It would put me up for failure every single minute of the day. I'd be so consumed at the possibility that I'd make one mistake that I'd be a basketcase all day. And I can't do needles.

I don't know. Maybe I am just a big failure. I was under the assumption that quite a few people weren't using their degrees. Maybe we are all failures?? I just can't take it anymore...I'm tired of having to answer to people.

Sorry that was rambling. Thanks for listening. If you have any input, I'd love to hear it.

sounds like you should give everything some time. if you're fairly happy with your current job, stay with it and don't put yourself through anything you aren't sure you want to do. if you want to do something that requires more school, maybe you'll be ready to go back someday.

i've been in college for one semester and i'm dropping out after this upcoming one. it just isn't the place for me whatsoever.

I'm an english major, freshman in college and whenever I tell people what I am they automatically go "oh, so you're going to teach?" No, I'm not going to ****ing teach. I love kids, honestly...but I do not have the patience to teach. And because an english major is so wide open you really DON'T know what you want to do, I certainly don't. I chose english because like you I like to write and it's also one of the few things I'm good at. I'm not smart enough to be a frikkin bio major like everyone else in the world. No, I do not want to be a doctor. No, I do not want to work in a hospital. I'd sooner gouge my eyes out with a pencil. Yet people like that are more assured of a job because it's a field in high demand and it's usually all for the same thing. English...no clue, all up in the air. So yeah, I feel lost too. At a different point, but still lost. Those are not even half the things going through my head.

I don't want to be nosy, but I'm just curious...what exactly do you do? Since you were an english major too, I'm just curious what jobs people get with it. I mean basically you can do anything, right? I actually think I'd like to work at a school myself because I like kids, just not actually teaching. I'm thinking of minoring in psychology and being a school counselor or something like that because that's another area I'm interested. But still, completely lost.

And sorry, that wasn't really input but more ranting of my own lol. I just figured it was related in a way.

Cathy, the only thing that truly matters is whether you like you job or not. If you do like your job, than nothing anyone else says really matters.

Rant all you want!

My official title is Educational Associate. I do all sorts of things: check papers, do projects for teachers, work 1:1 or with a small group of kids reading, spelling, math, etc., recess duty, hall monitor...I also work 1:1 with a special needs boy. Sometimes it's not unlike teaching, although you can get away from the kids better. lol Recess duty this time of year sucks, but the rest is good. I color a lot. Getting paid to color isn't half bad.

Rant all you want!

My official title is Educational Associate. I do all sorts of things: check papers, do projects for teachers, work 1:1 or with a small group of kids reading, spelling, math, etc., recess duty, hall monitor...I also work 1:1 with a special needs boy. Sometimes it's not unlike teaching, although you can get away from the kids better. lol Recess duty this time of year sucks, but the rest is good. I color a lot. Getting paid to color isn't half bad.

It sounds like you do an important job and that you do it really well. That is my definition of a sucsess. :)

sounds like you should give everything some time. if you're fairly happy with your current job, stay with it and don't put yourself through anything you aren't sure you want to do. if you want to do something that requires more school, maybe you'll be ready to go back someday.

i've been in college for one semester and i'm dropping out after this upcoming one. it just isn't the place for me whatsoever.
I suppose if I were more passionate about something, I would be more likely to go back. I wish getting a teaching certificate were quicker and easier, because subbing might be ok (at least at the school I work at now), but it's another 2 years or something. Ick.

Nothing wrong with not liking college. Wasn't totally my scene either. Sometimes trade school or correspondence is the way to go. I took some online classes that I liked.

It sounds like you do an important job and that you do it really well. That is my definition of a sucsess. :)
Thanks. :) My mom has said that I'd be a good teacher because I want the kids to learn. The other day I taught a girl about when to use 's and when to use s'. She got it and it made me happy. :)

Rant all you want!

My official title is Educational Associate. I do all sorts of things: check papers, do projects for teachers, work 1:1 or with a small group of kids reading, spelling, math, etc., recess duty, hall monitor...I also work 1:1 with a special needs boy. Sometimes it's not unlike teaching, although you can get away from the kids better. lol Recess duty this time of year sucks, but the rest is good. I color a lot. Getting paid to color isn't half bad.
Yeah, that really doesn't sound so bad. Actually sounds kind of nice. If you like it, stay with it. Screw everyone else.

Thanks. :) My mom has said that I'd be a good teacher because I want the kids to learn. The other day I taught a girl about when to use 's and when to use s'. She got it and it made me happy. :)


You're welcome, Cathy. :) I agree with your mom. I think that you would make a really good teacher. Relating to children is such a difficult thing to do and as I've said before, you seem to be really good at it.

I can relate to this, b/c I started out as an Education major, planning to teach, when that didn't pan out, I switched to English. I loved it, I wound up taking classes I actually LIKED, but now that I'm out of school (graduated in '04), I'm not really sure what I want to do. Lately I've been thinking of doing something in computers, b/c I'm online basically 24/7, but I dunno what specifically. If I really fell in love w/ something, I'd prob. go back to school, but at the moment, I have no desire to.

Well, a toast to all English majors anyway! :cheers:

You're welcome, Cathy. :) I agree with your mom. I think that you would make a really good teacher. Relating to children is such a difficult thing to do and as I've said before, you seem to be really good at it.
That's one of those things that is a total mystery to me; little kids used to be like dogs - they scared the hell out of me! But just like dogs, they loved me! :lol:

Now I like dogs and kids. lol But for some reason, kids have always liked me a lot.

Luckily I haven't come across that problem (yet.)

It's my understanding that english is a very hard degree to actually apply to a career, unless you plan on going on to do a doctorate...

In any case; I'm starting to think about giving college another shot.

I just don't want to go into debt for nothing.

^My friend received a B.A. in English and eventually a Master's in Linguistics. She seems to be doing just fine.

Many people with English degrees go into publishing, which actually pays well in the long run.

I only get that stupid a$$ question from women when I met them on a dating service

"What do you do for Living?

Blah, Blah, blah

"Is that what you went to school for?


NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, I'm doing what I'm currently doing to MAINTAIN my independence.

It's my understanding that english is a very hard degree to actually apply to a career, unless you plan on going on to do a doctorate...

In any case; I'm starting to think about giving college another shot.

I just don't want to go into debt for nothing.
I hear both...when I first chose it as a major I thought I was screwed but I didn't know what else to do. But then I looked into it and you can basically get into anything with an english major. They'll even accept you into medical school (though I have no idea why, nor do I plan on it) so basically I'm not TOO worried. The only thing that bothers me is that I myself just have no idea what I really want to do.

Well, a toast to all English majors anyway! :cheers:
haha :woohoo:

Hells yeah! :cheers:

I am in the same boat a lot of you are in--I'm an English major and all I hear is "Are you going to teach?" and when I tell them "No, I want to write", they sorta just smile and nod. I really hate it!

God, I mean....there is so much to do with an English degree! Not everyone wants to teach it :mad: I could go into editing or publishing if I wanted to (between freelance work, that is).

I dunno, all the nosy questions just bother me...good to know others feel the same way!

Well, a toast to all English majors anyway! :cheers:

You don't owe anyone any explanations. I'd just keep it simple and tell people that you're happy with the work that you're doing. You're right, many people don't use their degrees. My husband's family owned a restaurant, and one of the waiters had a law degree. He hated the legal field, lol.

Don't ever regret going to college though. Nobody can ever take your education from you. We never know what life holds in store for us. You may need to put it to use one day, if you're getting divorced and you have three kids to support, lol. I'm kidding, but you get what I'm saying, I'm sure.

They'll even accept you into medical school (though I have no idea why, nor do I plan on it) so basically I'm not TOO worried.

You can have almost any major and get into medical school as long as you still take all the required science classes.