2008 Woodie Awards
Boring major blues
My View
Sura Roten
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Viewpoint
About once a week, I'll spend hours talking to someone about my research interests. Whether my unwitting victim is my mother, my boyfriend or an unlucky friend, they all smile and nod patiently until I'm finished using words like "participant observation" and "ethnography."
I'm an anthropology major, which means I study all aspects of humanity. I study human evolution, human culture, everything from finding the missing link to how to properly run a museum. That's something you could find out on a Google search, or by visiting the department Web site. But there's something you probably don't know about anthropology majors.
We're pretty nerdy.
Okay, we're really nerdy.
Anthropology majors' idea of a good time is watching a movie that portrays our major inaccurately. Or talk about which electives are the best. Or talk about what we're going to write our thesis about. You get the picture.
We laugh at the people who ask us, "Anthropology? So are you, like…Indiana Jones?" We know our major is not nearly so glamorous. But when it comes down to it, we also know that we have a lot of real, true passion for our major. We didn't choose anthropology as a field of study because it would make us a lot of money.
We chose it because we're all passionate about it.
When I told my parents I was switching my major from biochemistry to anthropology, they weren't pleased. They'd wanted me to go into business for the longest time - but hey, biochemistry was still a good choice. So when I told them I was changing my major to anthropology, they were confused. What was anthropology, they wanted to know. What can I do with this degree? When I showed them how passionate I had become about the subject, though, they started to understand.
At times, I wonder if everyone on campus has really considered the major that he or she is in. Your major can have an influence on what you do for the rest of your life. Do you really like it that much? If so, great! But if not, why do it?
I'm an anthropology major, which means I study all aspects of humanity. I study human evolution, human culture, everything from finding the missing link to how to properly run a museum. That's something you could find out on a Google search, or by visiting the department Web site. But there's something you probably don't know about anthropology majors.
We're pretty nerdy.
Okay, we're really nerdy.
Anthropology majors' idea of a good time is watching a movie that portrays our major inaccurately. Or talk about which electives are the best. Or talk about what we're going to write our thesis about. You get the picture.
We laugh at the people who ask us, "Anthropology? So are you, like…Indiana Jones?" We know our major is not nearly so glamorous. But when it comes down to it, we also know that we have a lot of real, true passion for our major. We didn't choose anthropology as a field of study because it would make us a lot of money.
We chose it because we're all passionate about it.
When I told my parents I was switching my major from biochemistry to anthropology, they weren't pleased. They'd wanted me to go into business for the longest time - but hey, biochemistry was still a good choice. So when I told them I was changing my major to anthropology, they were confused. What was anthropology, they wanted to know. What can I do with this degree? When I showed them how passionate I had become about the subject, though, they started to understand.
At times, I wonder if everyone on campus has really considered the major that he or she is in. Your major can have an influence on what you do for the rest of your life. Do you really like it that much? If so, great! But if not, why do it?
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Carol Richards
posted 5/20/08 @ 12:23 AM CST
I totally agree with you Sura. A high paying job may be nice, but if you don't enjoy what you are doing, you won't be happy. I spent the last few years working at a job I really did not like and it was awful. (Continued…)
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