The Job Question We’ve all been Asked- and my Liberal (Arts) Response

By Annette Hauswirth, BA 2011 Spanish & Communication Studies

Right before I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Spanish and Communication Studies, I often faced the question: “And what do you plan to do with that?” At the time, I greatly envied my friends who studied nursing and engineering, as it seemed their education would transition effortlessly into what we call the “real world.”

I started to doubt that my diverse liberal arts education—with classes like Spanish Renaissance Poetry, Coral Reefs, or Music and Identity—would be of any help as I began to look for a job that was right for me.

But now, more than two years after I’ve graduated, I have been able to recognize that these experiences have shaped the way that I think about myself and the way that I interact with others. I have come to embrace the fact that what I have gained from my education may not be translated to a tangible job title, as in other areas, but it has truly given me a new state of mind that will help me in whatever I choose to do next.