My name is Rachel and I was born and raised in Tennessee. Some would consider me a Southern Belle: I love sweet tea, wearing dresses, and say “ya’ll” more often than (as an English major) I care to admit. But until recently, I was a little embarrassed of my Southern roots— the accents, the politics, the number of Rebel flags I saw taped to pick-up trucks. Then I spent a semester studying abroad in England, and while I learned about British culture, I learned a lot about American culture, too. I now understand why so many writers travel: it’s a wonderful confliction– having the urge to leave but wanting to stay within the comforts of home– and it’s a feeling that makes me happy, and thankful, to be a writer.
I’m a creative writing major (with an ESL minor) and have been fortunate enough to be actively involved in this department. I’m an office worker in the English office, a member of the English club, and a published author and editor of our student journal, the Zephyrus. I have some great plans for this blog that will (hopefully) be fun, informative, and entertaining. So, what can you expect?
- Rachel’s Challenge: Every weekend, YOU will vote on a strange, rarely-used word that you find interesting and I will spend the week writing a poem or short story centered around it. For example, say you decide my word should be “jackalope.” By Friday, I will post and poem/story centered around this mythical beast. I realize that this is a fantastic way for you to mess with me, but I have a good sense of humor and an overly-confident attitude, so I’m up for whatever you throw at me!
- Bios and interviews: More in-depth profiles of faculty, staff, and even students. It’s important to know who’s in your department and hey, maybe you can impress your professors with your thorough knowledge of their professional life (or just really creep them out).
- Alumni Profiles: Chances are, you’ve heard it– the overwhelming, cacophonous question asked by students, skeptical family members, and practically everyone: What can you do with an English degree? Here, you can read accounts of graduates who have left the halls of Cherry and have encountered the Real World (whatever that is).
- EMW Celebration: If there’s one thing I love, it’s an excuse to eat really good food (I am Baptist). Seriously though, this blog is approaching its third or fourth year of creation — on top of the one year anniversary of the blog internship– and a lot of hard work and writing has gone into making this blog what it is today. At our celebration, I’ll give out faculty awards and give credit where credit is due.
In between all of that, I’ll be providing you with details on all English/Cherry Hall events and some random, good-to-know English information. It’s going to be a fantastic semester. I’m really looking forward to it!
-Rachel
