English Major
I chose Heidelberg because that is just the direction that life took me in that moment.
I majored in English with a concentration in Writing and Philosophy because I am always arguing with people and I desired to be better at it—I don’t like losing. This is a partial joke. I minored in Literature and Art because I am introverted and have a self-explanatory love for the arts.
A major challenge I encountered while at Heidelberg was my constant crisis that always consisted of different dramatic things. I handle it like I always do: taking it day by day.
Above all, Heidelberg prepared me to have a sort of confidence about the way I carry myself when it comes to my writing and other work. Essentially, I grew a lot as a person and a writer and I was guided toward wanting to publish and share my work in readings that happen in the community.
Outside of the classroom, I was involved poetry readings at the local coffee shop, I worked for multiple years on the editing team at both The Rock Creek Review and Morpheus Literary Magazine, I have been a freelance reporter for a newspaper in my hometown, and I am getting published in Polaris Literary Magazine this May. I also placed high in the Echo Literary Competition.
My favorite extra-curricular activity was working as Managing Editor for The Rock Creek Review because it was such a different experience managing a literary journal than just trying to get published on the other side and gave me a lot of important insight into the inter-workings of the publication field.
One faculty or staff mentor or advisor who impacted my ‘Berg experience is the entire English Department because they have been nothing but supportive of all of my endeavors. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has positively affected me and my future.
My advice to freshman me would be to be gentler with yourself. It will get unnecessarily harder at times, but you’ll make it work. Just make it work. You did it as right as any human could.
My favorite Heidelberg memory is when Professor Harry Melroy gave my introduction for my Senior Honors Project and made a light comparison to Bob Dylan and I I almost sobbed before my presentation because it was such a kind thing.
My plans after graduation are to go to Germany, to live with my husband and generally go experience what life is like in another country.