Why I Chose My Major (And What I’ve Learned So Far)
By CAROLINE A.
When I was applying to college as a Communication major, people would ask what I wanted to do with that or even what I could do with that (a common question asked of Communication majors). I didn’t really know what to say because truthfully, I didn’t know. I just knew two things: I didn’t want to pursue STEM and I wanted to work within the entertainment industry. What this would look like as a career was still unclear for me.
A majority of college students go through a point where they question if their major is right for them, I know I definitely did. Looking back, I am grateful for how broad the Communication major is because it allowed me to really search for something that wasn’t directly in front of me. I think there is something special about a broad major that doesn’t lock you into one direction and pushes you more to find your path and your niche in a sea of opportunities.
What I found most valuable for me was the wide array of industries and paths that I had the opportunity to explore because of how broad my major is. After exploring my options through Annenberg classes and clubs and learning from peers and professors about their career niches, I found a passion and drive to explore the distributive side of the film industry, especially marketing and public relations. Declaring my minor in entertainment industry allowed me to further define my communications path to fit my interests.
My courses thus far have provided a glimpse into the breadth of sectors and pathways within the communications industry. I’ve studied everything from how communication theory appears in political contexts, to the evolution of communication technology from analog sources to artificial intelligence, to the economics and ethics of media monopolies. My ASCJ 200 class examined user trends across media, and encouraged me to dig deeper into strategic messaging and its impact on an audience, which is extremely relevant to my future career.
In Annenberg, I am constantly surrounded by passionate and driven Communication majors, all striving for different goals across countless industries. I’ve come to believe every major is valuable if you are genuinely passionate about it, after all, that is what is going to motivate you at the end of the day. Within the communication program, I meet people who want to work in similar roles as me in entertainment as well as people who are striving for completely different roles in completely different fields. This diversity of passion and ambition is what makes the communication program so special. It really is a “choose your own adventure” in the best and most valuable way possible.
