I am a graphic design major. I came into college as a speech pathology major, which – don’t get me wrong – is an amazing field. I just could not see myself doing it every day for the rest of my life. When I made the big switch, I realized I was going from a scientific, clinical profession to a purely creative one.

So I began taking art classes. Although challenging and time-consuming, I really enjoyed them. After taking my art basics (drawing, 2D design, etc.), it was time to move into my graphic design classes. My first one was Basic Visual Communication. The name makes it sound like a fairly simple class, right? Wrong. It was tough. My classmates had several all-nighters in the art building in which we traced type on a light table. The 8 a.m. class caused me to question whether or not my new major was right for me. After the first couple of projects, I started feeling it. I recognized this would not be an easy major. I kept pushing.

Others outside of the art department did not feel similarly, however. When they would ask my major, I’d tell them I was graphic design.

“Oh so yours is a fun, easy major,” some would reply.

“Fun? Easy? Are you kidding me?” I’d think to myself. Those stressful, hand-cramping all nighters were neither fun or easy.

I’d hold back from confronting their accusation.

“Yes, fun,” I’d say through clenched teeth.

Sure, I enjoyed what I was doing. Actually, I enjoyed what I was doing after it was done, when I could see the finished product printed and mounted on midnight black mat board. I did not enjoy the fact that others took what we graphic designers did for granted, but as a sophomore in college, a newcomer to the graphic design world, I did not know how to defend my hard work.

Last summer, after conquering a number of graphic design and art courses, I realized that graphic design is more than just making something pretty on the computer.

So one day, a man at church began talking to me about school. I told him my major, and he replied as many other adults to.

“Your major is graphic design? Good luck finding a job,” he said.

Annoyed, I immediately began pointing out examples of graphic design around the room we were standing in.

“That poster – graphic design. This label – graphic design.”

He was quite surprised that I so boldly addressed his error. Rather than simply taking his comment as I had so many others, I proved him wrong. And it felt really good.

So this one is for you, graphic designers and artists. To all the late-nights drawing, shading, painting, and building – the time spent is not in vain. Thanks for making the world a prettier place.