The person behind the comm degree

When I tell people that I’m a communication major, it is followed by a lot of mixed reactions.

You have the people who really do not know what to say and go “oh, cool” then you have the ones who are way too honest and are as honest as possible, ones who are genuinely happy for my decision and then the people who are incredibly confused and have to ask “what are you going to do with that?” I am not offended by that question because I enjoy telling individuals about my future plans, but please do not follow it with a negative situation.

If I tell you that I want to be in the media, mentioning how much you hate the media will not make me feel satisfied. If you told me that you wanted to be in the medical field and I did not say anything else but “ew, blood” you probably wouldn’t take that well.

On another note, please do not tell me about someone you knew who had hardships with this degree or anything related to it. Every single field has sob stories, it is true not everyone will succeed in their career, but you telling me, "oh, I know someone who majored in journalism and they could not find a job" will not do anything but make me sad and question why I even told you.

A communication degree can open the door to many careers, ranging from party planner to the corporate world. I have a wide range of options but yet, I am still knocked down all of the time for my choice. I am told that I will not make money, I won’t make it anywhere, and of course the stereotypes of being dumb or lazy (news flash: I am not either of those things).

I have taken marketing, advertising, speech, mass comm, broadcasting and journalism courses throughout high school and college. Yet, I am still mocked, even by those I love. I am living in a society that bashes the media for fake news when I hope to be one of those “terrible” “don’t know what they’re doing” media people.

I was told to change my major, to just become a teacher, a stranger once told me that communication majors throw away their degree and end up in pharmaceutical. Why should I change to please others? I chose this major when I was a sophomore in high school because I knew that I wanted to write for a magazine or be on TV one day. Here I am, a junior in college and that has not changed.

My main goal is to be a news anchor because the news studio fascinates me. I follow WGN on Instagram, CBS News, Washington Post, several anchors, even radio personalities on TikTok, and with every post I see, I am reassured that this is what I want to do. So, no I am not dumb, my 3.6 high school GPA and my current 4.0 can confirm that. I am not lazy, my exec board positions, and workaholic personality can confirm that one.

When I had the opportunity to see a live taping of "Man of the People" hosted by WGN's Morning Show's sports host, Pat Tomasulo for my 18th birthday, I felt at home. I had a sense of belonging wash over me and I remember telling my parents that that is where I wanted to work one day.

I would love to work for a magazine, such as Refinery 29, an online magazine for women, a local chronicle newspaper, a largely known newspaper (Chicago Tribune, are you looking for interns?), a radio and of course sitting behind a desk at a news station (Hello, WGN, I’m right here!).

I do plan on using my degree and will climb every necessary ladder to make my dreams come true because I do not let any dream die, I am determined to make it and you WILL see me on the news one day.

Elisa Reamer

Instagram= ereamer333 ereamer.poetry

Tiktok= justcommmajorthings

“The powers of The universe will guide me To where I need to be. I am walking on the path To successes” - The Fates Will Harmonize For You, RH Fowler