All throughout my years of schooling, I consistently found myself being one of the few people who genuinely enjoyed studying English. All my friends would groan and complain at even the thought of having to read and analyze another work, or completing another writing assignment. I never understood their apathy; to me, analyzation and writing were invigorating. I finally had an opportunity to express myself in a school setting, and could get away from the monotony of science and history. Yet for my friends, English was daunting for the very same reason. The lack of concrete rules and methods pushed them farther away, toward disciplines of hard facts.
Moran described this very same occurrence perfectly, categorizing English as its own autonomous subject, and quoting Rosen, noting how “no one can confidently map its frontiers” because of its fluidity. That fluidity makes it remarkable and unlike so many other disciplines. It’s so rare to be able to find room for self-expressionand introspection in an academic setting, which is why this major is so appealing to me. As a vocal-performance major and aspiring conductor, leaving space for artistic expression in academia is an integral part of my learning experience, for without that sort of freedom, internal growth is put on hold, which I consider equally as important as scholastic growth.
English isn’t the only subject, however, that allows such freedom, as there is of course music and art. I suppose it is no surprise that these are the two other disciplines in which I find myself immersed in most frequently, considering my take on English. I find that these fields hold the same weight as English, and as any other discipline, despite the academic dismissal all three seem to receive from many. For example, when I told my father I was going to be a music major with a possible double in English, his skepticism was not easily masked, and I of course was berated with questions about how I could possibly make a living. I look forward to the moment when these fields aren’t disregarded as cute pastimes or hobbies of an optimist, and are instead treated with dignity and respect. The arts are as critical to our society as science or math, for the nurturing of the human spirit is what will keep our world alive and colorful.