Whenever we encounter someone new on campus, one of the first questions we ask is, “What’s your major?” In my case, I respond that my major is journalism and mass communication. Depending on the answer to this question, a certain unconscious response is generated from the questioner. I often receive a response along the lines of “Journalism? I bet that’s easy.” No matter what the intentions of the speaker, the implication is often that I, or others with that major, are less intelligent.

We have it in our heads that if you aren’t an engineer or math major, you are taking an easy career path. This is completely false. Each major, in its own way, can be considered difficult.

As humans, we are each granted with a special set of skills. These skills influence our interests and, eventually, what career path we decide on. We take classes that enhance our knowledge within our skill set and stay away from those that don’t. It’s wise to acknowledge strengths and weaknesses; college is just a way of honing strengths.

When we enter into our chosen major, we are each greeted with different challenges that make our program difficult for each of us. But, our major is constantly compared to other majors determining whether or not it is “easy.”

The way that the difficulty of a major is viewed by society is all due to relativity. When comparing journalism to an engineer major, of course journalism seems “easier.” But, after thinking about the set of skills needed and the work that goes into being successful in that program, both have different characteristics that make each program difficult.

While math and science majors are spending their time solving problem after problem or spending long hours in the lab, journalism and English majors are writing paper after paper and art majors are spending hours perfecting their projects. All are doing something that they possess a strong skill set in, and all tasks are equally arduous.

There’s a reason why I chose to be a journalism major and not any major that has to do with math. I am terrible at understanding math and all of the rules that go along with it. I can understand enough to get me by in life, but ask me to solve some lengthy equation and you might have better luck asking someone in high school.

Instead, my skill set is in writing and communication. I love typing words on a page and sharing information with others through this medium. Even though this may be easy for me, my major still requires me to take courses that I find challenging.

Challenges in programs like English, art, and history, are most often overlooked. When called “easy,” it makes it seem like that members of these majors are not as inherently smart as those who are in a “difficult” major.

Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” But, if you were to place this fish into a body of water, it would be much more successful than a tree dwelling monkey. College is the time to discover and pursue our own body of water.

In the business world, one degree is not completely relied on for the operation of a huge corporation to be successful. Instead, people of all different skills and backgrounds work together for one goal: success. A company run entirely by engineers, math majors, English majors or journalists would fall most likely fall apart.

Successful businesses rely on employees with a variety of different majors and backgrounds. Employee skills are matched to the appropriate role or job within the organization.

The next time that you feel the urge to comment on someone having an “easy major,” stop and think what that program may be like for them. Maybe you can solve extensive calculus equations, but with what ease would you construct a 15 page research paper? You could be unintentionally putting down something that their passion is in.

In the end, we are all working towards a common goal – graduate and be successful in our chosen profession. And in order to reach that goal we all must overcome challenges, no matter what our major is.