Remembrances by Majors Past

I was an English major with journalism thrown in. People would ask me, “What are you going to do with that, teach English?” I loved to read and write, and that’s where God led me. My response to them was, “No, I want to go into public relations.” And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing my entire career, working for the armed services, the last superb 19 years for the Air Force! So my strong advice is to do what you love! Life is too short to do otherwise, and the money will follow ....
Donna Tinsley (English ’79)

I chose my double major with the idea that this was going to be my last shot at higher education, for financial reasons, so I did the counterintuitive thing and studied what I really had a passion for, rather than worrying about a future profession. I have no regrets, and I thoroughly enjoyed my college experience. My first major was in international relations, which is really kind of a study of modern history. Finishing up the requirements for that one, I had time for a second major and chose English, focusing on modern literature. The two majors ended up mirroring each other, and it was quite fascinating to see how art reflected the times. I think I learned things in those majors that at least make for interesting small talk, but more importantly, I believe that my education has always enhanced my appreciation for the best things in life. I finally found my way back to school and just got my law degree. I can't help but think that my prior education contributed to my success in law school and will do the same for me professionally.
Darlene Sprinkle Wood (International Relations, English ’76)

I was an English major. Today, I’m a program evaluator focusing on early childhood education and school reform, among other things. While undergraduate training in quantitative analysis and statistics might have been helpful, what I learned as an English major at U.Va. has really made my work a pleasure. I use those experiences every day, whether I’m interviewing program staff to find out what works and what should change, conducting a literature review to learn everything I can about a new content area in a very tight timeframe, deciding how best to present complex data to multiple audiences or figuring out how to design a project that answers key questions for my client. I’d certainly select the major again, despite my parents’ concern that reading poetry for four years isn’t a very productive use of time.
Gaylon Parsons (English ’96)

I majored in English for my undergraduate degree and received a master’s degree in architectural history. I delayed declaring my undergraduate major because I was hesitant to major in English just because of the “what are you going to do with that” attitude. I eventually succumbed to my love of literature and declared. I have never regretted it. From writing letters to administrative memos to technical reports, I have found that the rigors of the English program have given me an advantage.

While I always imagined that I would make my English degree work for me by becoming a magazine writer, it has actually been through my architectural history degree that my English degree has paid off. In a field bogged down in jargon, I have found that writing with clarity and simplicity (writing so my mother can read it, is how I say) has given my work some distinction. I have even been able to write a couple of books! Also, my husband and I met while at the A-school, so I am deeply indebted!

I can’t imagine having a different undergraduate degree or a different graduate degree. U.Va. gave me a lot of opportunities to look up different streets, but I am glad I chose the ones I did!
Debra Alderson McClane (English ’87, Master of Architecture ’92)

All in all I’d say a B.A. in English has been most helpful in my career, not to mention being able to do the NY Times crossword in pen (at least Monday-Thursday!). Seriously, the communications skills that I picked up along the way as an English major have been extremely valuable in my career and in my personal life as well. As a business person who frequently deals with recent college graduates, I’d say that there has been a steady deterioration of writing (and speaking) skills over the last couple of decades. You will gain an important advantage over your peers if you develop and nurture the ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively no matter where your career path will lead.
Bruce Brandfon (English ’69)
Vice President and Publisher, Scientific American

When I entered the University it was with the intention of becoming an accountant. After all, I was good at math and I liked money. A perfect fit, right? Well, after taking Economics 101 and Accounting 101, being bored to tears and barely passing, I realized I needed a Plan B. Unfortunately, like most kids, I did not know what I wanted to do with my life at age 19. With the deadline for declaring a major rapidly approaching, I chose English mainly because I enjoyed reading and I didn't know what else to do.

The upside of being an English major is that you become a better communicator. Because of the sheer volume involved, you become a faster reader out of necessity. And the improved writing skills always come in handy no matter what career path you may choose. (The best course I took while at U.Va., in terms of preparation for the business world, was called Small Group Communications. It was a terrific combination of working with other people toward a common goal, public speaking, research and writing. If this course still exists, you should absolutely take it!)

However, the downside of being an English major is that it does not prepare you for anything specific. I envied my friends who went from the business school right into good jobs with accounting firms, as I had originally intended. It took me much longer to figure out what to do. Eventually, I decided to go back to art school. I ended up with a successful career in advertising, but I think I would have been much happier if I had a major pointing me in that direction in the first place. You gain valuable experience from whatever you do, but you can never get back that lost time.

With today’s outrageous cost of living, it’s even more important to hit the ground running after graduation. You can't afford to just bum around while you “find” yourself. The last thing you want to do is be forced to move back in with your parents. And trust me, THEY don’t want you to, either! So my advice is to stay focused and find a major that prepares you for an entry level job in a specific field. For example, if you graduate from the engineering school, you can get hired by an engineering firm, etc. And by all means, take advantage of the guidance department while you are still in school. Especially before you declare your major if you are still undecided. They can help you see what opportunities are available to graduates in all areas of study.
Michael Margolit (English ’81)

I majored in English (American studies) and history. These were great majors for me at U.Va. in the late 1970s; I wouldn't think of changing them if I were doing it again. They certainly served me through law school and 21 years of law practice: Critical thinking about evidence and events; close, critical reading of texts; and cogent writing are three skills these majors helped with, especially given the top-flight faculty in both fields. Setting aside nuts-and-bolts skill-building, and shifting to the challenge of figuring out what’s important in my life and how I want to live it, the English major was great: how can you beat three years of reading what scores of authors over the centuries thought was worth distilling from life into written art?
Adeeb R. Fadil (English ’80)

I chose my major based on what I was interested in, the professors that most sparked my intellect and what I felt would be important to both me and the world. I chose to major in English language and literature. Despite many people telling me that this was a “useless major,” I have found that I constantly use skills that I learned in school for my “real world” job. Reading and writing are both significant aspects of my job that I have to demonstrate skill in every day — reading comprehension and the ability to effectively communicate ideas through writing are both key components of my job, as well as most other jobs I would imagine. I am thoroughly glad, and proud, that I majored in English at U.Va.
Carla Lewandowski (English ’02)
Senior Market Research Analyst, pharmaceutical industry

Undeclared until I returned from a semester abroad for the last half of my third year, I became an English major, almost by default. I loved every class, and I now appreciate what I learned to do — write, and write well — every day in my professional role. And then, of course, there is the reading of the books. For the many talented generalists out there, an undergraduate English or history degree from U.Va. will serve you well.
Jennifer Masters (English ’88)
Senior Director, Special Projects, Children’s Hospital Foundation

I picked English as a major for a number of reasons: (1) my mother taught English at VCU, (2) I liked to read, (3) I thought I might have some talent for writing, and (4) I thought it would be good preparation for law if I decided to go that way. As so often happens in life, English was fun and interesting but not enough to persuade me to continue to grad studies. One of my professors was candid enough to tell me that I wrote reasonably well but not well enough to make a living at it. And lack of funds militated against a law degree. I went into the Navy with a contract for two years of service and 20 years later as a Commander in the Supply Corps, I finally left.

But my studies in English were quite helpful throughout my career in the Navy as well as in the biomedical industry, which was my next field. It was startling how many people at senior levels of management struggle with the art of conveying thoughts lucidly and persuasively. Time and again I was able to help otherwise brilliant executives articulate plans and strategies which they had not previously been able to elucidate. English also gave me a relatively comprehensive vocabulary which proves useful on a daily basis. And finally, my love of reading has not abated and continues to bring me great pleasure. While my later studies in business and the acquisition of an M.B.A. have also proved useful, the initial selection of English was one of my better life decisions.
Doug Jordan (English ’65)

My doctorate’s in English; the thesis title is classically derived with the usual quotation+colon+description trick, and I hate to mention it. What I do with it is what I have known all along I’m supposed to be doing: encouraging undergrads to tell ’em what they’re going to tell ’em, then tell ’em, then tell ’em what you told ’em.

No Garrison Keillor-derived jokes about English majors, please; there’s no better program for getting people to “connect the dots” AT LEAST for a semester or two before they sink into the cubicle and the La-Z-Boy for good. And for some of them it sticks, even if your student pool is mostly gaming-business majors at UNLV; they may go ahead with it, but they don’t believe in it any more. Would I prefer to have picked some respectable major, such as burglary or multi-level marketing? I don’t think so; I can talk the talk, but not convincingly enough to get through a single haircut at the traditional barber shop. I do regret not pushing harder to maintain my juvenile commitment to rescuing the works of Lovecraft and Heinlein from their non-canonical status, but what the heck.
Justin E. Kidd (MA, English ’65, PhD ’73)

When I applied for my first graduate school degree, I was accepted for both religious studies and theater (with a playwriting concentration). I got into playwriting at Brandeis University and Columbia University; I got into McGill University for religious studies. It was a tough decision, but I chose writing over theology. When I look back, sometimes (often) I wish I’d have taken the other route — studying religion. It would have been nice to go to heaven. But being a writer, now I’m screwed.
Ron Riekki (MFA, Creative Writing ’02)

Although I was passionate about a career in medicine, I chose English as a major at U.Va. In the mid-1960s, it was very unusual to major in anything but science, and some would actually say it was detrimental to one’s career goals for medicine. I loved my work as an English major in the College and have never regretted it. My life in academic medicine and surgery has been enriched because of my choice of a major. My writing, editing and teaching and lecturing responsibilities have been influenced greatly by my choice of a liberal arts major. I tell the same thing to pre-med students today — major in what you like. Despite my choice of a major, I made it through medical school at U.Va. just fine and always considered that I was richer for my pre-med opportunities.
Rick Greene (English ’66, MD ’70)
Chairman, Department of General Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center

I was an English major and the only thing I’d do differently is to minor in classics as well. (I think it would have been really interesting to complement a study of English literature with Greek and Latin texts that helped found Western civilization.) As for English, there’s no other subject that lets you be a writer, a psychologist, an anthropologist and philosopher at the same time. In terms of how it’s helped me today, there’s not a day that goes by that the writing skills I learned as an English major — whether in a memo, a press release or in editing copy — don’t come into use.
Carol Hoy Vieira (English ’99)

My major absolutely has defined my life and my successes. English is one of those all-purpose disciplines, considered and promoted as a bridge to almost any profession. I truly believe that because I studied English (and because I had the great benefit of learning in one of the most respected programs in the nation), there's nothing that I couldn’t do and excel in.

That said, I enjoy the fact that my major has shaped my professional outcomes. My English degree was the foundation of my career as a journalist and now shapes my work in corporate communications. I think critically, often read things differently than most ... and have a wealth of literary knowledge that serves me well when I least expect it!

For my part, deciding to major in English was one of my best life decisions.
Kimberly Harrison Greer (English ’89)

Having just attended my 40th reunion, I have the advantage of significant perspective on the subject.

I was an English major because I loved literature, and reading the assignments was anything but work to me. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I felt a little guilty when I occasionally wandered onto the Dean’s List. Mix in a smattering of courses in philosophy, art history, French language and literature and, while I can’t tell you that a bachelor’s degree in anything renders one a Renaissance man, it does make watching “Jeopardy” a lot more fun.

I had a grandfather, of whom I was inordinately fond, who had a couple of engineering degrees and taught at places like Georgia Tech and the Naval Academy. When I told him I was eschewing the hard sciences in favor of a major in English, his reaction was not exactly what I expected. He said something to the effect that you can be the most brilliant scientist in the world but it doesn’t mean much if you lack the ability to communicate your ideas.

In any event, I hung around the University for another three years and earned a law degree. Being an English major has hardly been a handicap during my 37 years of law practice (in fact, it is my opinion that an English major is the best possible preparation for a career in law).
John B. Dinsmore (English ’66, Law ’69)

Coming in to U.Va., I was a gung ho pre-med student determined to major in biology or cognitive science, or some other field that would look impressive to medical schools. However, despite my ambition for a health science career, I was drawn to the humanities. I missed reading novels and having intellectual discussions about them. Second year, I lived with a fourth-year student who was pre-med but had chosen to major in English rather than the usual science fields. She told me that while it was a lot of work to balance the required science classes for pre-med and the English courses, she really enjoyed the break from all of the science. I took her advice and registered for my first English course and declared my major. It was tough to balance the science and the literature, but I enjoyed the way I was able to broaden my mind. I ended up with majors in both English and biology but walked across the stage on the Lawn to receive my degree with the rest of the English majors. Now I am beginning a new chapter of my education at Columbia University in the occupational therapy program and am ever so grateful that I was able to experience the balance of life science and humanities during my time at the University. I know that the integration of those two different fields will help me in my coming studies, which will combine a study of social sciences with medicine. My advice is to major in subjects that you enjoy. I have never regretted my decision and thoroughly enjoyed every class that I attended.
Gretchen Ward (English, Biology ’02)

In reply, I majored in English literature but now teach mostly mathematics. I am glad I had all that literature, because I have also been called upon to teach Chaucer, theatre and Greek philosophy.
Peter M. Barres (English ’58)

I was an English major (with John Casteen) and was a science minor (I was pre-med and now on a med school admissions committee) — the students who are liberal arts majors do better on the MCAT exam — you are always ahead if you can read and write (same advice I gave in an earlier e-mail).
Kenneth N. Adatto, M.D. (English, Biology ’65)

I majored in English ... and came to this major after what felt like many a dark hour of the soul. First, should I listen to my father and major in something “sensible” (defined as business or political science — the latter having been his college major)? I had neither aptitude nor interest for either, and so I decided “no.” Phase Two of my decision-making process centered around choosing between psychology and English. Both were of interest to me. Here is where I have a suggestion, if it is still offered, I strongly recommend that students take the career planning course offered by University Career Services. This class helped me greatly with devising a decision-making plan and after following many of the suggested steps: talking to upperclass students, meeting with faculty, reviewing major requirements ... my decision suddenly became very simple. Psychology required statistics. I loathe math. Ergo, English major was the choice for me! Do I have any regrets? Not at all. I thoroughly enjoyed my major (ok, ok, except for reading BLEAK HOUSE) and would do it again in a moment. My major helped me to develop decent (I’d like to think good) writing skills that I use today as a freelance writer as well as in my other job, as a career counselor at University of Mary Washington. I enjoy working with liberal arts students, some of whom are just as confused as I was, way back when and I try to take some of the stress out of choosing a major.
Mary Becelia (English ’87, MEd, Counselor Education ’91)

The English major at U.Va. is at once the most exalted (graduation on the Lawn, Edgar Allan Poe, Faulkner) and the most invisible. Tell someone you’re an English major, and you vanish instantly into that vast, noble group of people widely understood to be wasting their time. Many people will reassure you, “Don’t worry — English majors can do anything!” Meaning: You’re screwed. Or they’ll remind you of the major’s supposed utility: “You’ll learn to write!” In other words: It’s not a complete waste.

Let’s be clear about what a major in English offers: the chance to encounter the urgent utterances of another human being, a person necessarily different from you, who has experienced pain and joy and suffering and wonder. Of what utility is this? I use what I learned as an English major every day of my life in everything I do, whether it’s raising children or reading the paper or watching someone I love grow old and die. It’s often joked that English majors are obsessed with death — maybe we are. I don’t think we have any more answers than anyone else in this (or any other) department, but perhaps we’re more familiar with the questions.
Jennifer Buxton Haupt (English ’90, MFA, Creative Writing ’95)