My parents don't support my major?

[erds_08]

I'm a college sophomore. At the start of college when I was a freshman, I was SURE I wanted to be an English major. But somewhere between then and now (it's my second semester), something changed. I am not as passionate as I was about it before. My school had this event where students officially declare their major by signing their name in a book and then you get a button and pamphlet. I signed my name and officially declared it, but afterwards I still felt unsure. My friends were so proud of what they signed: taking pictures, posting on Facebook how excited they were, proudly wearing their buttons. I didn't feel like that at all. I still was unsure and uncomfortable. When people asked me I didn't want to talk about it at all.

I want to change, but the problem is my parents don't really support anything else I want to do. The other day I brought up that I was considering switching to sociology (I want to be an adoption counselor), and my dad said in the most condescending tone: "Sociology? What would you do with that? Why don't you just stick with English?" Everything I suggest changing to, my parents shoot down: psychology, sociology, social work, etc.

They're paying for school, so I understand that they'd want me to do something practical. But I hate feeling like I have to choose my major around what they want. Advice?
You know what? Forget it. I'm just going to go into the teaching program. Thanks everybody for the help.

[Charles]

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. You have a romantic vision of being an adoption counselor -- helping grateful parents, etc. But in reality, social service agencies can be anything but romantic. They're underfunded and have to grub for money. Employees are underpaid and supervised by . . .let's say, "difficult" people. Before you leap out of the frying pan into the fire, why don't you talk to a couple of counselors and see what they advise?

[Bubbles]

Are they paying? If so, it may be your life but it's their money. They should at least feel like they have a say. Maybe they just want to see you stick with something. Parents can be weird that way. Would it possible to stick with English as a major and dabble in your other interests as electives? You could also consider a minor or a dual major.

[Pinky]

try to have a talk

[Donald B]

Sociology is the study of other cultures in the world. It will not prepare you to do social work. To become an adoption counselor you will be required to get a 2 year masters degree. If your parents are paying you need to get their support or you will end up with 100,000 in loans like so many other students if they withdraw their support.
you need to do two things. Prove that English is not that great a major, which it is not as there is no clear career path for it. Then talk them into social work which includes the 2 years extra to get a MSW. You also need a master's with psychology. By the way you will need excellent grades to get into graduate school in these majors as the competition is fierce.