In just two short weeks, I will be walking across the stage at commencement. I will have a huge grin on my face, searching the crowed for my family, and praying to every God imaginable that I don’t trip. I will be ecstatic that I have finally accomplished my dream. All of that is to … Continue reading But I Don’t Want to Teach: A Meditation on Graduating with an English Degree
Tag: English Major
Bill Bryson saved me $1888
For a long while now, I've had a strange sensation of wanderlust. A desire to travel that could not be quelled by a short trip to someplace warm and tropical. No, this desire was not for the typical vacation. I don't know why, but I've always wanted to travel to Britain. Could it be my … Continue reading Bill Bryson saved me $1888
That Time I Compared Lana Del Rey to Margo Roth Spiegelman
Okay, so I wasn’t actually comparing the Lana Del Rey to Margo Roth Spiegelman from John Green’s young adult novel Paper Towns. But it was pretty close. In one of my English classes we were each assigned to lead a discussion on a section of Paper Towns. Since I was going last, after we had … Continue reading That Time I Compared Lana Del Rey to Margo Roth Spiegelman
The English (Teacher) Major
If the reader here is hoping to be an English teacher, great. This isn’t for you. This is for all the kids at family get-togethers that have been given sympathetic looks. The kids who are constantly dreading small talk because their mom’s friend, Martha, inquires about how you’re going to find a job. Also, don’t … Continue reading The English (Teacher) Major
Grammatical Mistakes You Shouldn’t Be Making Anymore
I believe that a writer ought to love and respect the English language in the same way that a musician ought to revere their instrument. Jimi Hendrix would not have been able to make the spell-binding music that he did if he didn’t respect his instrument, granted, he wasn’t the most technically polished guitarist, and … Continue reading Grammatical Mistakes You Shouldn’t Be Making Anymore
How to Become a Professional Reader
If you spend most of your time reading newly published books and enjoy sharing your opinion and excitedly discussing those books, then you’re the perfect candidate to be a professional reader. If you don’t know what a professional reader is, it is someone who reads, reviews, and recommends books to other people, whether for libraries, … Continue reading How to Become a Professional Reader
The Importance of Creative Space
I’ll be the first to admit that the idea of a consistent creative space used to make me roll my eyes. I never bought into the idea that your focus on writing could be aided by having one go to place for yourself when you wanted to write or paint or do anything creative. But … Continue reading The Importance of Creative Space
Writing: When it’s Not Your Major
I remember the first time I took a creative writing class at college level. I waited patiently as everyone shared their typical, first day of class “about me” skits, each one ending with their major: English, creative writing, or literature. All of a sudden, I felt excluded from a club I didn’t even know existed, … Continue reading Writing: When it’s Not Your Major
How to Read Effectively: Part 2
When a reader observes a text, she should take in as much information as possible. This means that the reader must set up a reading space. What works for some people may not be what works best for others. One person may adequately read in the bed while another person may do so at a … Continue reading How to Read Effectively: Part 2
The Moment I Became an English Major
When did you realize you wanted to major in English? That is a question that has perplexed me since I enrolled at Oakland University. When I applied to college English was the obvious choice for me, I felt like it was the only option for me. This was not just a question about my major … Continue reading The Moment I Became an English Major
Oakland Arts Review 