One of the first things you read on NC State’s Department of English website is the following, powerful words: “Words not only reflect but also create our understanding of the world we live in every day … they make us human.” I believe this wholeheartedly. Language is an integral part of the human experience.

The words we read and write are not just letters on a page; they are important facets of life. This is why I believe everyone should try taking English literature classes at NC State, even if it isn’t a part of their major, to advance their knowledge and application of the English language.

I’m sure everyone remembers the one book in high school that they did not enjoy reading at all, and the dreadful feeling of having to write a long paper for an English class on a topic you found far from compelling. Whenever I tell people that I am an English major, some people assume that these things — extensive papers, boring books and the like — are all that the major consists of. These assumptions could not be more wrong.

The major actually consists of thought-provoking classes on topics ranging from film to science fiction, classes that allow students to write what they actually care about and classes that can vastly improve writing ability.

These false assumptions about the English major also come with questions. “Do you write a lot of papers?” “What are you going to do after graduation?” “Do you want to become a teacher?”

No. Well, not necessarily. While I know that teaching is an admirable profession, like most of the students I have met in NC State’s English program, I don’t necessarily have plans to become a teacher.

All of the students I’ve met in the major have aspirations that extend to journalism, screenwriting, politics, public relations and more.

In fact, on the last day of my intermediate fiction writing class last semester, I was surprised to learn that not all of the students in the room were English majors like myself. There were students who were majoring in computer science, political science, biology and other majors that have little to do with reading Shakespeare and writing short stories.

This was a reminder to me of the power of the written word to help inform and change lives. All students can, and should, try to benefit from what English literature classes have to offer. English literature classes allow students to learn writing skills that can go on to help them express themselves creatively and to challenge themselves in any profession they choose in life.

According to a report from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 26.2 percent of surveyed employers reported that job applicants with four-year college diplomas had deficient writing skills. [SG1] Writing effectively is vastly important for any job, and the better your writing abilities are, the better you will fare in the job market.

In fact, according to a 2016 article published in The Wall Street Journal, starting salaries for English and other humanities graduates have risen sharply in the past few years, and more companies are seeking out and hiring liberal arts majors, specifically English majors.

While you don’t have to be an English major to succeed in life, or get a job after college, these studies and articles simply highlight the need to be able to write well in today’s society. Taking English literature classes can help improve writing ability, which is a skill most people will need to have for the rest of their working lives. The ability to read and write well cannot be forgotten after high school; it will always be important.

Writing does not have to be tedious or boring. Taking English literature classes enables students to write about subjects they like while becoming better at the craft. Last semester, I took a creative nonfiction class that allowed me to do just that. Few classes prioritize expressing your creativity, but in English lit, it is the most important part.

English literature classes also allow students to challenge themselves. In an op-ed published on The Odyssey, writer Natalie Barletta describes how taking an English-lit class on 20th century novels, despite not majoring in the subject, was a fulfilling experience for her.

“Getting exposure to these novels not only shaped me into a well-rounded reader, but also gave me the chance to explore new books that I now enjoy…” writes Barletta. “Some of the books I’ve read were very challenging, and there were several times that I wanted to throw my hands up into the air and give up. However, I didn’t.”

English literature classes not only challenge us and the way we think; they can also improve our way of life. According to a 2013 Emory University study, reading fiction improves brain connectivity and function.

I am a bit biased, but the English classes I have taken at NC State have allowed me to read books I find interesting, discover my love for films, write essays on topics I believe are important and write my own short stories. I believe they can impact other students just as much.

Everyone can benefit from taking English literature classes. You don’t have to be the best writer in the world, the most avid reader or even an English major to appreciate the English classes our school has to offer.

The classes offered in the NC State English department can help any student develop their writing, become better readers and discover new interests. You won’t regret taking the effort to advance your writing and reading skills at NC State.