Posts: 2,025
Threads: 109
Joined: Jan 2003
Reputation:
0
...what is my life going to be?
Ok, quotes from the musical Avenue Q aside, I am looking for a career change.
As many of you may or may not know, I graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Seconadry English Education. I have found that public education is not quite where I want to be right now. I know that private and parochial schools are always an option, but I think I want to take some time to consider other options. I know that there are a handful of members on the 'base who have English degrees. What would you all suggest? I am open to any ideas, and have strong public speaking and writing skills. How do I sell those qualities, and also, what fields would appreciate such assets?
Thanks in advance.
-Jenna
Posts: 46
Threads: 2
Joined: Jul 2006
Reputation:
0
Speaking and writing skills... Communications, journalism, even publicity maybe? I know there are a huge number of TV ads that are soooo bad and that I can't stand seeing over and over again... I can't help but think there has got to be some room for people who can write and be more clever and witty. Hmm - just saw you were in Cincinnati... don't know about the market there, but if you care to check Montreal out, you'll find a good amount of opportunity... probably much less money (!), but opportunity. (pardon my own English - second language)
Posts: 1,577
Threads: 35
Joined: Sep 2004
Reputation:
0
For a friend of mine a B.A. in English recently converted into writing the LSATs and trying to get into law school (the fruits of which effort will soon be revealed). This after making various stops along the way, including: English Instructor at Concordia, mountaintop running in various locales across the world, and vetting subtitles for television shows.
so ... seeing as you've already done teaching, there's always law, subtitles, and long-distance running.
My wife was a grade-school English teacher for 6 years (3 in the public system, 3 in the private system) with a BA in English and Anthropology. Last year she left teaching to pursue cooking school -- she enrolled in a private chef's college and took courses at a community college as well. She even went so far as to take, briefly, a part time job at Williams-Sonoma (which didn't last long enough for us to cash in on the employee discount however). She would have continued with cooking if pregnancy and now a 3-month old had not intervened.
So, you could add cooking and motherhood to the list above.
ct
Posts: 20
Threads: 2
Joined: Mar 2004
Reputation:
0
Teach in Korea, travel the world and make a decent amount of money. That is what I did. I was able to visit more than 20 countries. Once I finished traveling I went back to school and became an ESL Teacher. It was a fantastic experience!
Posts: 605
Threads: 26
Joined: Jun 2004
Reputation:
0
Skippy, you just broke my little journalistic bleeding heart.
Although I tend to agree right now: journalism does blow.
As for the debate at hand, another option is to try writing scripts. I'm hammering out two ideas right now. I'm sure they'll both be soundly rejected, but a boy can dream.
There's nothing better than television.
Posts: 1,172
Threads: 49
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation:
0
To answer the question in the title of this thread...aside from teaching, there really isn't much else that you will land that will provide you with IMMEDIATE financial rewards. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are a few exceptions and I realize that not everyone is motivated by money, but I think the best thing to do with an English degree is to continue your education and get your Masters. Opportunities increase exponentially with going that extra mile in English, or virtually any Arts degree for that matter.
My cousin had her first child at 19 and missed out on the first run at school...2 kids later and at the age of 27 she went to University. She graduated with a BA in Engish at Carleton University (Ottawa, ON), then she completed her MA in English (Dalhousie University, NS) then she went on to do another Masters in English again at Dal and was able to go on to do her PhD in English at Dal. She completed her dissertation at the age of 39 and is now a Professor at Dalhousie in Nova Scotia with a grand total of 4 kids and countless part time jobs along the way. Certainly not your typical path but I sure was impressed.
