by Gisele Tang

“What are you going to do with an English degree?”

I took a deep breath, prepared to shrug off the familiar question with another, “I don’t know, I’ll see when I graduate.” But something in me resisted the dismissive answer. As I looked deeper within myself, I realized that I do know, I just hadn’t spent time to reflect on what literature truly means to me.

I love to read – that’s all I’ve ever known since I was younger. When it came to choosing my university major, I chose programs that would let me read as much as possible. Unlike business majors or pre-med students, I didn’t have a clear path or career plan. I avoided thinking about it because so many voices told me that this degree would be useless and lead to a difficult career. I haven’t graduated yet, so I can’t say much about my career. But one thing I’m sure of is that literature is anything but useless. Reading has changed my life and shaped me as a person. Whether it’s poetry, fiction, short stories, or essays, literature has done much more than simply expanding my knowledge. It has broadened my understanding of societal issues by telling the narratives of those who were silenced throughout history; it has deepened my compassion by drawing up emotions that I never knew existed; it has pushed me to reflect on myself by exposing the repeated mistakes of humans; it has shown me the unlimited power of creativity, of the human mind and the strength it takes to dream big. Because daring to dream is the first step in making the impossible possible. The testimonies of writers who have endured countless challenges have shown me that I get to write the story of my life and that I have the power to make a
difference in the world.

But how can we create change if we only fixate on our perspectives and remain
ignorant of what other voices need? Literature is the perfect tool to help us look beyond our limited viewpoints. The beauty, humanity, insight, and wisdom we find in books are truly marvelous and inspiring.

So, while the pursuit of literature may not lead me directly to a stable career like some
other professions, it has taught me hope, courage and perseverance – which, in my opinion,
are exactly what we need to live a meaningful, fulfilling life.

After reflecting on why I’ve dedicated so much of my life to the pursuit of literature, I’ve come to believe that literature isn’t just a means to an end. More often than not, it is the
end. Literature is the essence of humanity – the beautiful, the painful, the joy, the pain of
struggle, and the preciousness of all feeling it all, of different people’s truth, that is what
reading is about.

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Gisele Tang is an undergraduate at the University of Toronto, majoring in English and Philosophy. As an aspiring journalist, she serves as Associate Features Editor for the student newspaper The Medium. Gisele appreciates a genuine conversation, so you would find most of her works as interview articles on various topics, from healthcare, and finance, to culture and so much more! Additionally, Gisele is also an avid poet – she is all about romanticizing life.  

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The views and opinions expressed in blog posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of all WiT members.