Why did you choose to attend UM?
I chose to attend UM because I absolutely fell in love with the campus, the atmosphere, and just the overwhelmingly friendly interactions I had with everyone from the bookstore workers to the advisors I met with. SEC Football and a wonderful English department was just the cherry on top for me.
I chose to attend UM because I absolutely fell in love with the campus, the atmosphere, and just the overwhelmingly friendly interactions I had with everyone from the bookstore workers to the advisors I met with. SEC Football and a wonderful English department was just the cherry on top for me.
What would you tell a high school student about your major? What is most important for them to know if they are interested in pursuing that field of study?
I think the most important thing to know about an English major is how versatile it is. Even as a Creative Writing emphasis, I've developed close reading skills, the ability to recognize the importance of language and word choice, how to effectively communicate my opinions on readings or my peers' writings, and most importantly, how to write. The ability to write professionally and effectively can take you anywhere and everywhere in life you want to go.
I think the most important thing to know about an English major is how versatile it is. Even as a Creative Writing emphasis, I've developed close reading skills, the ability to recognize the importance of language and word choice, how to effectively communicate my opinions on readings or my peers' writings, and most importantly, how to write. The ability to write professionally and effectively can take you anywhere and everywhere in life you want to go.
Why is your department a special place?
The English department is awesome. It offers so many unique and interesting courses, from literary surveys to writing workshops. The professors always challenge their students critically and creatively while encouraging individuality. Whenever I'm walking on campus and pass former professors, they always say hello and ask how I'm doing. That professor-student connection has always been important to me, and the English department values that.
The English department is awesome. It offers so many unique and interesting courses, from literary surveys to writing workshops. The professors always challenge their students critically and creatively while encouraging individuality. Whenever I'm walking on campus and pass former professors, they always say hello and ask how I'm doing. That professor-student connection has always been important to me, and the English department values that.
What class or professor has had the most impact on you?
The class that had the most impact on me was my Fiction Workshop class with Dr. Bondurant. He challenged us to write outside our comfort zones, emphasize the emotional aspect of character relationships, and taught us the importance of having short and long tension within a story. During workshop classes, he would have everyone type initial responses and then have us discuss them in class. Dr. Bondurant's responses were the most detailed revisions I've ever received and have helped me further hone my skills as a writer. If he had any critiques for us, he would always give us detailed explanations as to how we could fix it so that we could take our stories to the next level.
The class that had the most impact on me was my Fiction Workshop class with Dr. Bondurant. He challenged us to write outside our comfort zones, emphasize the emotional aspect of character relationships, and taught us the importance of having short and long tension within a story. During workshop classes, he would have everyone type initial responses and then have us discuss them in class. Dr. Bondurant's responses were the most detailed revisions I've ever received and have helped me further hone my skills as a writer. If he had any critiques for us, he would always give us detailed explanations as to how we could fix it so that we could take our stories to the next level.
What do you hope to do after graduation? What are your career goals/plans?
I haven't fully decided yet what I want to do besides the long-term goal of becoming a published author and the short-term of spending a few years in Washington, D.C.
I haven't fully decided yet what I want to do besides the long-term goal of becoming a published author and the short-term of spending a few years in Washington, D.C.
What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you'd tell your past self (about the general college experience)?
Learning how to effectively manage my time was more challenging than I thought it would be. I underestimated how much time and freedom I had, but struggled with time management and prioritizing school over free time. So, I would tell my younger self to get schoolwork done first, then enjoy the plenty of free time I still had to have fun.
Learning how to effectively manage my time was more challenging than I thought it would be. I underestimated how much time and freedom I had, but struggled with time management and prioritizing school over free time. So, I would tell my younger self to get schoolwork done first, then enjoy the plenty of free time I still had to have fun.
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