From the moment I first toured the campus back in 2016, I knew immediately that Ashland University was the place for me. When I met the faculty of the English Department, I had never felt more welcomed, and the opportunities that were presented to me during my undergraduate career have given me invaluable lessons, insights, and plenty of amazing memories!
Some of the fondest moments in my reel of highlights come from the various Creative Writing workshops I took throughout the years. In particular, The Essay and Creative Nonfiction/Fiction courses had an especially memorable impact on me both as a student and aspiring writer. In these classes, I discovered my love for this genre. It was incredibly liberating to unpack and transform the intense, overwhelming experiences of my life into artistic expressions. Not only did this aid in my healing, but the feedback, thorough guidance, and support that I received from my professors allowed me to make drastic improvements in my approach to writing. Having such an open, comfortable platform with honest and encouraging peers has given me the confidence and space to grow as a writer. Additionally, I was challenged to step outside of my comfort zone by writing in styles I had never previously explored. Dr. Grady’s Screenwriting workshop, for instance, was one of the most difficult classes I have taken to date. However, the ways in which she pushed me to stretch beyond my limits have earned it a place as one of my favorite courses to date.
The novels, poems, plays, and short stories that were covered in many of the classes I took were inspiring and thought-provoking. Engaging with diverse perspectives is critical in fostering deeper understanding and bridging cultural gaps, so I was extremely appreciative that the English Department at AU chose a wide variety of texts from authors all over the world. Some of my favorites include Lynn Nottage’s play Ruined, Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Seacole, Nick Vujicic’s Life Without Limits, and many more. The in-class discussions that surrounded these works, though, were equally as important and enlightening. Dr. Weaver and Dr. Mondal’s courses were especially informative and entertaining.
But the classes were not the only activities that I cherished during my time at Ashland. My time as an Associate Editor with the student literary publication Black Fork Review made me fall in love with the publishing industry, and solidified my love for producing stories. I also had the opportunity to work as a Senior Communication Coach at the Writing and Communication Center for two years. Working alongside the talented AU student body on their assignments was an amazing experience!
After I graduate with my Bachelors in English and Creative Writing with minors in Marketing and Psychology, I plan to seek a job somewhere in publishing!
