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.
