Today was a pretty great day. And I hope the days will continue as such!
For our girl scout meeting tonight, we had two English major graduates come and talk about various aspects of schooling and careers in English. It was really fascinating, and made me a little/lot more nervous but a lot more excited to start college!
It's important. O.O So I'm putting it here. Before my notes eat themselves or something equally unbelievable, but likely.
It is difficult to get a creative English job. As an editor, it would be good to double major in English and Communications or Journalism. This would give you broader opportunities. Technical writing and editing jobs are in more abundance.
You can get on-campus jobs at the U, such as in the Marriott Library, which will also help pay for books. Start applying for these the summer before starting college! Apply for a lot! It will take a few months to hear back from all of them. Prepare to be interviewed if you make it through the first ring of fiery judgement! (Try to avoid food jobs, since this isn't what you want to do. It can be difficult to get away from, and will be very tiring for a full-time student.) Find a job that will work with you and that you can handle with a homework load.
Good jobs will want experience! Look for internships! Unpaid internships will help you gain experience, and can help you to weasel your way into that company or a similar job. You may be able to get grants or classes for internships from the U. You just have to look!
Amy is going on to teach ESL in Japan for about a year. That may be a great opportunity to actually get out there in the world! (You have always wanted to travel!) May or may not need a degree, depending on the place. May or may not need experience with the native language. TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification.
Think about studying abroad! Again, you've always wanted to travel.
Some say good editors don't make good writers, or good writers don't make good editors. But despite this, read a lot, write a lot, edit a lot. You are likely to succeed at things you work at. Different editors work well with different writers. Some may change the work, in which case they need to get permission from the author—this can often be annoying, as a writer. Writers who actually want to improve will work well with feedback on their work, and then time to work with that feedback. Probably should strive to be that type of editor.
Grant writing itself can be a really well-paying job! Everyone wants someone to help them get money. Cha-ching. That is, if you're good at it....
Be diverse! Keep life fun! Often, good jobs won't go to the people who graduate from a prestigious school, but to people who are well-rounded, with experience and actual interest. Be a human you would enjoy having around! If you like yourself, it's more likely that other people will as well.
It's okay to keep finding out what you want for your whole life! You can settle down for a few years and then pick up and move. Keep yourself safe and healthy, but it's okay to change your goals to make yourself happy. Both speakers changed what they did every few years, or every summer. Shape your life around your vision of what a happy life is. Find happiness, and your security in it.
Writing teaches you "how to think and put together ideas in a logical structure."
Remember to email Amy! She says she'll help you to learn those "100 things I wish I knew as a Freshman in English!" Don't be afraid of humans*! They can be very helpful creatures. Love them. They can be awesome.
And remember why you want this, and why you can do it.
*I know... everyone says I'm weird. I'm human too, I guess.
Don't forget to be awesome!
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