In what now seems like a previous lifetime, I began my college career studying fine art. I chose this program because I’d been drawing incessantly for years and managed to secure an art scholarship. I had no idea what I would do with the degree, I just knew I loved drawing and studying art history.
I specifically remember the turning point in my college career as an artist. The assignment was to draw a supersized version of any object. For some reason, I chose a hamburger. (More on that choice later.) So I took great pains to capture every detail–fresh water drops on the lettuce leaves, the oozing slice of cheese, the thick, juicy meat patty, the sesame seeds on the bun. I thought it looked pretty realistic.
The instructor’s assessment haunts me to this day. He said it was the most disgusting, unappetizing hamburger he’d ever seen. (He was NOT a good professor.) My classmates froze in silence, hardly believing his cruel response to a fledgling artist’s precious work. I was heartbroken and humiliated. After such a traumatic event, no wonder I became a vegetarian.
That was a turning point for me. I decided to switch majors to English literature because I loved to read. Again, I had no idea what I would do with an English lit. degree, which is not an uncommon situation. If you took one class in English lit., you know how many essays students have to write and the “valuable” feedback one gets from the professors. That experience prepared me for what would come later.
Years after graduating and working in dead-end jobs, I made my way into technical writing and consulting, and the rest is history. Now I get feedback from editors and customers, and it actually is (mostly) helpful. Plus, I get to learn about new tools and technologies on a regular basis and hang around with other cool technical writers.
Am I ever glad I switched majors.
Tags: career, mean professors, technical writing
Instructors can be quite cruel. Did he have a weight problem or other food “issues?”
I think many traumatized people flee other majors and jump into English. It’s far friendlier. I don’t regret my choice.
Instructors who are bullies might do English departments a great favor, don’t you think?
Well, he was a skinny guy, but that’s interesting about food issues.
You’re right, learning to deal with bully authority figures would be good training for the workplace, where changing majors isn’t an option. Although changing jobs is an option, it’s not easy to do these days.
The interesting part to me is that you went for majors that you enjoyed, regardless of employment consequences. I also had no ideas about jobs when I chose my major(s), I was just interested in a good education. I don’t know whether technical communications is the last refuge of people who enjoy a good education (or just reading in general), but a lot of technical writers I’ve met seem to fit this category.
I prefer to think of technical communications as a refuge of the gifted :+D.
I started as an art major on scholarship and ended up in English as well. Of course, I had many different majors on the way. The best part of technical communication for me has been that you get to use just about anything you ever learned. Knowing everything about everything would be really handy for a technical communicator.
Sheila, I bet that drawing of a hamburger was mouth-watering.
When I was in high school my father, who was a teacher, told me that I should pursue a career writing textbooks. As any 16-year old would, I told him I couldn’t think of anything worse. I wanted to write the great American novel.
I started college as an English major. Then, because it required relatively few credits, I switched to a double-major in English and Philosophy. The Philosophy taught me to think critically, and the English taught me to organize my thoughts on paper.
Years later, as I was cranking out software manuals for Corporate America, I realized that my dad had been almost dead-on with his career advice. I’ve never regretted any of it.
You can bet it was, Larry! I ate meat back then.
I loved philosophy in college, but I had so many art credits, I decided to minor in art.
Good combo, English/philosophy double major. It’s certainly worked out well for you. You write the BEST top 10 lists :+)
Strange coincidence – I am technical writer for the govt and also part-time student finishing up my degree in, you guess it, English with an Art minor. Just this morning, I was wondering what I was going to do with myself when I grew up. Would my degree really apply? Would I be satisfied with a future in this field? After reading your article, now I know. I’ll stay right where I am at and keep typing away. Thanks for the article.
I enjoyed your article, Sheila. I always thought it would be so cool to be an artist but felt I lacked the necessary creativity. To avoid taking pre-calculus my senior year in high school, I took an intro programming course and ended up majoring in computer science (where I had to suffer through two semesters of calculus). After working for 18 years as a programmer, I realize that programming often requires — you guessed it — creativity. I now work as a technical writer, but maybe my third career (or more likely post-retirement career) will be as an artist. Surely, the “constructive criticism” I receive regularly as a technical writer is preparing me for art critiques!
Hi Barbara, it’s good to hear from you. Yes, now that I’ve experienced the “constructive criticism” we receive as technical writer (or any job for that matter), I would be more prepared for an art teacher’s opinion.
Writin Wrong, good luck with your degree program. I haven’t regretted the English major/Art minor one bit.