"The beauty of the English major lies within the combination of its inherently versatile curriculum and worldly focus -tailorable enough to fulfill your life's ambitions while simultaneously transforming you into a multiskilled individual competent enough to succeed in any discipline.

For me with my interest in politics and government, the English Department guided me into a creative outside the box approach by centering my studies on political and historical literature from countries and cultures foreign and domestic, even enabling me to study abroad in Israel and Australia. Thanks to them, I proudly have the honor of being the first in my family to travel outside of the United States.

Furthermore, the classes trained me how to critically analyze texts from all periods of history and effectively articulate my thoughts orally or via text, enforced objectivity in all issues no matter how contentious, taught me how to traverse cultural and language barriers, and imposed all the fundamental yet tangible skills translatable to all industries. They built an invaluable foundation needed to succeed in foreign policy and I proudly say I would not be where I am now without their help.

In my life here in Belgium, I apply these foundations daily whether I am working within a multinational organization, connecting different cultural views and political beliefs to propose multilateral policy, performing research for my institution, attending debates and conferences on current political issues such as Brexit or US-EU relations, and forming significant relationships with people from all corners of the Earth.

Believe me when I say the English Department is truly transformative and will enable you to pursue any path outside of what is stereotypically attributed to it. If they can do this to me - take me from small-town rural Virginia to the world abroad - then just imagine what they can do for you."

"While education is a noble field, there's so much more out there that an English major can access as long as they have an open mind, determination, and a willingness to keep learning. I had a very broad set of courses that ranged from literature to linguistics, and I learned plenty of hard and soft skills from each: communication, document design, business writing, and even how to learn to use unfamiliar technologies. Most of all, the ODU English program taught me to be a flexible thinker and an adaptable learner, and that ability to think on my feet has been key in developing my career.

For instance, I started out in my current company as a technical writer, responsible for creating or editing documentation like policies, procedures and job aids. By working with subject matter experts on their documents, I gained exposure to other areas of the business and a general understanding of how the business operated. Within a year and a quarter of joining the company, I was able to leverage both the analytical and critical thinking skills that I honed during my time studying English, as well as the knowledge that I gained from my position as a technical writer to transition into an analyst position within the company's enterprise risk management department. I now help to create reports and charts that are consumed by executives in the company in the course of making business decisions! Even if I am no longer working directly as a technical writer, I'm still using the skills that I built back in college on a daily basis.

I am certain that I would not be in the position I am now if I hadn't studied English at ODU. My education forged a strong base for me to work from, and it taught me the importance of being able to both effectively break down and communicate information. I highly recommend taking a look into the English program!"

"So, what's your major?

This is one of, if not the most, frequently asked question on university campuses across the nation. When I would respond to this question as an English major, I was often asked if I had aspirations to become a Journalist or an English teacher.

While these can be rewarding and fulfilling career paths, there are other options that English majors have across many different disciplines that are rarely talked about. I believe addressing these other areas is a core strength of the faculty of the ODU English program.

Throughout my time at ODU, my professors and advisors always encouraged me to pursue fields that interested me. Whether or not these interests fell under the traditional umbrella of English major career paths, the program helped me build fundamental skills that are applicable in a wide variety of areas. Pretty much any field you choose to dive into, you'll need to be an effective communicator. Whether that's your formal writing skills, digital communication abilities, or verbal aptitudes, all industries need talented individuals that can properly convey a message and I believe the program helped set me up for success in that regard.

In my professional life as a Management Consultant, I've been able to apply these skills nearly every day. Between developing dynamic presentations, building professional relationships with my clients, or writing intricate technical proposals—the skills my professors provided me with have been invaluable.

I definitely want to give a special shout out to Janis Smith for allowing me the opportunity to explore unconventional internship options that helped me construct a resume to be successful in consulting. I'd also like to thank Dr. Richards for helping me build a more technical skillset that I frequently rely on in my career."