Art has always struck me as an interesting genre of life because of how many forms it can take. Personally, works of literature have always been my preferred art form but after taking an advanced art class in high school as an elective, I have also gained a passion – or rather a curiosity – for paintings. Dabbling in painting myself, I can appreciate the art form because it takes a certain level of patience, vision, and control, that many do not realize nor have themselves.

In an ideal life, I would combine my passion for writing with my liking for art to create an unparalleled combination of self expression. I sometimes think about that pair, writing and art, because of the few ways of how they do not coincide. For example, art is sometimes difficult to explain, but with words, clarity is the key to successful content. So when writing about art one must be clear and get across the meaning or intent even if they are unsure of it themselves. I give a lot of credit to art critiques for this exact reason. Art often creates an emotional reaction rather than a logical response, which can produce a tough internal task of expressing one’s emotional response through black and white, unforgiving words.

“Art is one of the sources through which the soul expresses itself and inspires others. But to express art thoroughly, one must have the inner emotions opened thoroughly.” – Meher Baba

I am pursuing a degree in the English field because it is the one I am most passionate about, most skilled in, and most wanting to obtain a career in. So, I in turn raise the question: in what world would I put so much time, money, and effort into a field if it had no return on investment? There are an infinite number of jobs that English majors can acquire, many of which even fall outside the traditional literary field lines.

Personally, I hope to find a job in the publishing world or in an editorial department of an art and lifestyle publication. Written word is one of the leading forms of communication today, regardless of whether it is viewed electronically or physically on paper. For those who say English is a dying field, I challenge them to imagine a world without such a form of communication, a world without online or printed newspapers, magazines, memoirs, fictional books, etc. There is a reason for why that is a difficult task, and that is because people enjoy communicating through writing, just as I do. So, if someone else likes geometry and thus becomes an architect, why do I get questioned for liking grammar and therefore becoming an editor? Just a little food for thought on this rainy day. xxoo ACM