English Majors: In Their Own Words

A liberal-arts degree can seem ambiguous. We're used to the fact that not all of us recent alumni work in fields directly related to what we majored in. Some of us don't even consider ourselves to be working in a "field." However, many of us have been profoundly affected by our degrees, no matter what we're doing. Thus, we decided to ask a few English majors, who undoubtedly have heard the question "What are you doing with your major?" as often as any of us, what they are doing – or not doing – with their major. And just for fun, we also asked them to write about it themselves, in 100 words or so.

Kyle Jensen, '03
Doctoral Student
Illinois State University, Normal, Ill.

If someone had told me that five years after graduation I would be studying English in a doctoral program in Normal, Ill., I would have laughed and asked that person to tell me another joke. Nevertheless, that is precisely what I have been using my English degree to accomplish since my time at Whitworth. Because I spend a majority of my day teaching, writing, and studying for exams, I still use many of the lessons gleaned from my undergraduate education. The most important lesson I learned from my English professors, however, is to invest in the personal growth of my students because doing so allows my instruction to become a meaningful act of service.

Katie Thompson, '05
Bookstore Manager
Copperfield's Books, Healdsburg, Calif.

It was not my English degree that brought me to my local bookstore, seeking employment. It was, rather, a dire need for work after too many rejection letters. I do credit the English department for cultivating my love of learning through various courses, from American independent film to modern world literature, in which I learned to research, think, and write critically. These communication skills are fundamental in any successful career, but the confidence and leadership skills gained by incremental successes in the workplace, both academic and professional, are a result of my overall Whitworth education, and are most important to me as a young professional.

Rose (Sliger) Krause, '02
Curator of Special Collections
Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, Wash.

Imagine paging through the hand-written letters of Charles Dickens or Jane Austen. What about holding in your hands the original manuscript of To Kill a Mockingbird? Original manuscripts, letters, diaries, and records are the basis for much of our contextual understanding of literature. One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job is identifying and acquiring original records from companies, institutions, social groups, and individuals in the Inland Northwest and Pacific Northwest. These records are the foundations for scholarly publications, magazine articles and documentary films, and they shape the ways in which we understand the past and present. My research experiences as an English major equipped me with an understanding of the importance of original sources for research and scholarship.

Becky Spencer, '98
Director of Recruiting
Galileo Educational Services, Oakland, Calif.

Nine years ago, I used my English degree to excel in a sales career, having learned how to make a convincing argument and convey my point of view logically. Later, a startup educational company believed that my degree had prepared me to hire educators to work with their programs. Since then, the skills I refined in classes at Whitworth have taught me to lead meetings with confidence, to write polished website copy and marketing collateral, and to stand up for my point of view. Most important, my English major taught me that a rich life involves being engaged with my community—reading, debating, and discussing ideas, developing real opinions and having the confidence to share them with friends and colleagues.