Choosing My Majors: Journalism and Sociology

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It’s hard to believe, but six years ago, I was so socially anxious that I couldn’t even look a Subway worker in the eye to order a sandwich. Phone calls caused a spike in my heart rate, and just the idea of talking to strangers made me break out in a cold sweat.

 How I became a journalist may sound nothing short of a miracle, but it was more so due to a small decision that led me here.

I was a senior in high school two years ago when I was deciding my major. I wanted to do something writing related, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to pursue. I considered history, English, and psychology, which I had enjoyed and excelled at in high school. I ended up applying to every single college and university on my list as an English major, except for UMass Amherst. 

I wish I could say that there was a hugely significant reason behind this decision, but it was really spontaneous, especially for me, a chronic planner. UMass happened to have journalism as an option on the drop down menu, and I thought it was an interesting career path, so I selected it. 

My first journalism class was Intro to Journalism with Professor Rodrigo Zamith. Professor Zamith had a way of speaking and moving that was captivating, and I wanted to emulate that energy: the desire to know, the commitment to truth while retaining humanity through it all. It was thanks to him that I decided to start reading the news (several sources, of course) in the morning, a habit that I have retained. 

I take some of my classes at the Integrative Learning Center (ILC).

As I took more journalism classes, I knew I was in the right place. I found community in my Reporting on Gender and Sexuality class, a class that has made me think much more critically about representation of women, trans people and nonbinary people in media. I debated ethical challenges in my Journalism Ethics class, and learned about what libel is and isn’t in my media law course. 

I learned that journalism is about covering humanity as it is: raw and real. 

How I Chose My Second Major: Falling in Love with Sociology

A few weeks into the fall semester of my first year, I wanted to add on another major. I thought it was going to be English for a while, but after talking with my advisor, I ended up going with sociology, hearing that it was a good program at UMass. I knew that there would be a lot of applications for sociological thinking and that I would get to explore societal problems and learn more about theories that shape the world, something I enjoyed the most from my history classes in high school. 

At several points in my college career, my studies in sociology paralleled topics I was learning about in journalism. Case in point: I was learning about feminist theories at the same time I studied gender in my journalism class; my criminology class examined the framework behind mass incarceration, something I could apply sociological theories to the following semester. I began undergraduate research with my journalism professor at the same time I was taking an elementary statistics course, which I expect will serve me well in the future. 

Honestly, the fit for me has been a dream for both majors, specifically my primary major, journalism. I can’t believe that after taking one more class, I will be completely done with all of my journalism requirements.

Looking Back on My College Journey: How UMass has Changed Me

Now, I no longer tremble when ordering at Subway. Speaking to strangers is second nature; in fact, hearing people tell their stories is one of my favorite parts of the job, and I make phone calls all the time. 

I’ve learned to embrace the unexpected and adapt quickly, skills one can only really learn with lots of practice. 

I’m looking into graduate schools, and while I may diverge from my original path again and choose to study something that will aid me in my journalism career, I can say with conviction that my journalism education will serve me well in my future studies and future in general. Knowing how to write an article under deadline, understanding my legal rights as a journalist, being aware of how I’m covering different groups — these are all things I learned through my time here at UMass and I’m endlessly grateful for that education. 

As I look forward to my last two semesters at UMass, I hope to take those final interesting journalism classes to finish my degree, maybe delve into podcasting or practice my best broadcast voice. Perhaps I’ll even find time to delve into a beat I don’t usually cover: after all, my journey here wasn’t linear, and I’ve learned to embrace the unforeseen. 

Wherever I go, I know that journalism has taught me to speak my voice — and also order a sandwich with confidence. What more could one want in life?