"But what are you going to do with that degree...?"

I attempt to answer the question that Classic's students dread...

"But what are you going to do with that degree...?"

As a Classics student in my final year of university this is a frequently asked question that I receive more and more regularly on the run up to final exams and graduation. I don't know if it is out of genuine curiosity or more so a question subtly masked with disdain that is aimed to extract a more "worthy" response. For me, this question is automatically met with an internal eye-roll, while I smile and try to come up with a valid justification for why I chose my degree and politely inform them that "No, Classics is ancient history and literature not music!"  

I'm going to put out a small disclaimer at this junction. I do not wish to generalise what may be the case for every Classics student because I understand that this may not be so, but these opinions are from my personal experience and from what I have been told from some other Classics students as well. 

In fact from my understanding, this question is not only limited to Classics but to other Humanities students as well. I find it hard to fathom why in this day and age, where the majority of us have the choice of numerous disciplines to choose from and endless possibilities ahead of us that this question can make those who have studied English or Classics or History inadequate to those who may have studied Economics or Sciences. 

And I'm here to say that this, should not be the case. As a 3rd year student, I voluntarily made the decision to go to university and expand my knowledge on a subject that's quite frankly, awesome, as well as take in as much life experience along the way as possible. And I would like to think I'm not alone in thinking that? I'm sure many of you would agree that as Classics or Humanities students over our 3 year degree we have worked just as hard on multiple topics, done just as many presentations and had just as many essays or dissertation deadlines as anyone else. So there is no need to feel inadequate or disheartened with our choice and there are just as many career avenues for us to go down because we have proven that we can research and work independently on an array of topics, speak our minds in presentations, produce work to specific deadlines and to a degree standard and turn up to lectures on time with horrendous hangovers! My point being, that ultimately your discipline doesn't define your career because your degree has proven that you have had the self-control to master all these basic skills that will be relevant in any industry.

So with that being said, I feel I should say, Good luck to every student graduating this Summer, I'm sure you'll go far! And if anyone ever asks you that question again, your response should be;

 "J.K. Rowling did Classics and look where she is now!"  

And for the Classics nerds like me, I shall leave you with the ever-lasting wit of Monty Python! 'What have the Romans ever done for us?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9foi342LXQE