I didn't know shorthand either.This meant I couldn't get a good job after college. My mother kept telling me nobody wanted a plain English major. But an English major who knew shorthand would be something else again. Everybody would want her. She would be in demand among all the up-and-coming young men and she would transcribe letter after thrilling letter.The trouble was, I hated the idea of serving men in any way. I wanted to dictate my own thrilling letters.
The narrator reflects on her struggles after college, highlighting a significant obstacle: her lack of shorthand skills. Her mother often emphasizes that being a plain English major limits job opportunities, while a graduate proficient in shorthand would be highly sought after. This notion creates a sense of frustration for the narrator, as she feels compelled to conform to traditional roles of serving men, which she resents.
