by Alana Laanui |
With graduation just around the corner, many seniors are concerned about where their majors will take them. The “Life after the English Major” panel addressed the multiple paths that English majors can pursue after graduating. These UP alumni took their English degrees and used them to find careers that may not seem so “English-y.”
Emily Barrett, Class of ‘10
Barrett didn’t know exactly what to pursue when she first graduated, but her friend’s mother was the one who encouraged her to look at different opportunities, which is how she sparked an interest in psychology. She later decided to get her master’s in psychology at the University of Oregon and now works for three schools in the Clackamas School District as a school psychologist.
Andrea Wujek Beck, Class of ‘09
Wujek Beck played basketball during her time at UP and decided to follow her passion for the sport, ultimately landing a job in Nike. She is currently the design studio manager for global brand basketball marketing at Nike and finds that her English major has helped her articulate her ideas and communicate with her team better.
Andy Matarrese, Class of ’10
Matarrese served as The Beacon’s editor-in-chief as an undergraduate, but it wasn’t until his senior year that he realized he was interested in journalism as a career. Once he graduated, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Central Oregon and later went on to graduate school. He now works for the The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver and reports on public safety and breaking news. His advice for future journalists out there is, “write short sentences.”
Zoe Zuschlag, Class of ‘08
Zuschlag graduated during the recession, but was able to land an internship and later a full-time job at Farm Sanctuary in New York. She found the nonprofit position very demanding and after a few years decided to go back to the West Coast to work in the service industry. She is now the major and special gifts coordinator at Mercy Corps in Portland. She finds that being confident and realizing your strengths is an important aspect when looking for a job.
A lot of you have held multiple positions since you graduated, and none of you except Andrea are working for the same company that you did when you first graduated. Did you ever worry that you would be stuck?
Zoe: I have worked in the service industry since I was 15, and after working at the nonprofit, working in restaurants seemed like a vacation. There were moments where I worried that if I kept doing this I would be doing it forever, but I always knew that I had other options. If you don’t (have) experience in the service industry I recommend it.
Andrea: It is easy to feel stuck ... it’s hard to explain. You can feel stuck, but there are a million things you can do with an English major. Experiences can launch you anywhere. I suggest putting yourself out there in a way that is service oriented and always be willing to help. There are so many people you are going to meet and things that you will do.
Emily: I was all over the place when I graduated: I started off working at a Western camp. I needed Starbucks to settle me down. I felt super anxious about what to do, it was (as) if I had to find my passion at that moment. Give yourself some time after you graduate. When I was in college it felt like it would take forever to find something I am interested in.
Andy: There are jobs out there you can’t even imagine. Talk to people and be willing to try stuff.
The income from a steady job is one reward, but where do you find happiness?
Andrea: I enjoy the people I work with. I find happiness in people. Finding the people I want to work with, with the same beliefs as me helps. I also just love living in Portland. I would suggest going away, but then coming back. There is always a balance.
Emily: I love working with kids. I laugh so much everyday; I definitely feel fulfilled. I have been able to strike a good balance between my career and personal life.
Andy: I love my job. There may not be security and (I have) low pay, but I do well enough for me and I really love my job.
Zoe: I don’t find happiness at work. When I was at Farm Sanctuary it took over my whole life. Working for Mercy Corps has been great; I value the work they do and it is well structured in a way I can put in my 40 hours and then be a person and have a life. I can find joy in all the ways I find joy. I haven’t given up on the idea of finding joy in my work but I prefer not to make work my whole life.
Do you feel that going to grad school really helped you with your career as a journalist?
Andy: I might have been prepared but it still looked good on my resume. But then again I guess you will have to check back with me in a few years to see if it really helped. I would not subscribe for journalism a set path. There are many ways to become a journalist.
What do you think are the pros and cons of taking a break after graduation?
Zoe: I am pro on that definitely. I was planning on going straight into graduate school and submitted applications but ended up not going. I felt like it was easier to just go to school, but I decided to take time to breathe. My opinion is that you have time. The idea that you will have a career the day after graduation is impossible.
Emily: When I graduated I had all of these ideas of what I wanted to do. Having a year was helpful for me to be confident in going to graduate school. I don’t think anyone would judge your resume for having a gap in order for you to judge your life. I am pro as well.
Alana Laanui is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at laanui18@up.edu or on Twitter @AlanaLaanui.
