English BFA Majors Careers, Internships & Resources for Writers & Editors

"I think I'm going to major in English." From "The Undeclared Major," A Gravestone Made of Wheat His father paused a moment. "Any...decisions yet?" his father said. Walter swallowed. He looked off toward town. "About...a major, you mean?" Walter said. His father waited. "Well," he said, "I think I'm going to major in English." His father pursed his lips. He pulled off his work gloves one finger at a time. "English," he said. "English," Walter nodded. His father squinted. "Son, we already know English." Walter stared. "well, yessir, that's true. I mean, I'm going to study literature. Books. See how they're written. Maybe write one of my own someday." His father rubbed his brown neck and stared downfield. Two white sea gulls floated low over the fresh planting. "So what do you think?" Walter said. His father's forehead wrinkled and he turned back to Walter. "What could a person be, I mean with that kind of major? An English major," his father said, testing the phrase on his tongue and his lips. "Be," Walter said. He fell silent. "Well, I don't know, I could be a...writer. A teacher maybe, though I don't think I want to teach. At least not for a while. I could be..." Then Walter's mind went blank. As blank and empty as the fields around him. His father was silent. The meadowlark called again. "I would just be myself, I guess," Walter said. His father stared a moment at Walter. "yourself, only smarter," he added. "Yessir," Walter said quickly, "that's it." Copyright 2000 Will Weaver