"My English degree taught me to read critically and write honestly—as a graduate student I feel that I’m still developing skills to apply in my career."
When did you graduate from BYU?
Creative Writing Minor 2021
What is your job/position? And how would you describe what you do in that job/position?
MFA candidate at UMass Boston in the creative writing program, poetry emphasis. The UMass program provides a workshop course every semester along with a selection of writing or literature classes, of which students takes one each semester. The program includes students from diverse backgrounds and writing/reading styles. The faculty create an environment that allows me to feel self-driven in my studies.
Describe the path that you took from your BYU English degree to your current career, highlighting the important realizations and turning points that paved the path for you.
I was an exercise and wellness major at BYU, but the writing and English classes I took for fun on the side soon became the meat of my educational experience, to the point that I added a year to my undergraduate degree, so I could complete the creative writing minor. In my first poetry class, I found a style of writing that engaged my mind in ways that felt most meaningful; also in that class, I learned that advanced degrees in poetry exist! The BYU faculty were attentive and helpful to me as I moved toward a goal of entering graduate school as a creative writing-poetry MFA candidate.
What are the specific skills that you cultivated as an English major that you now use in your professional life? And how do you use those skills in ways that set you apart from your colleagues?
My English degree taught me to Read critically and write honestly—as a graduate student I feel that I’m still developing skills in the hopes of applying them in my career. I aim to work in academia, so as a graduate student I’m grateful for opportunities to teach.
How else has your English degree helped you in your life?
My creative writing minor is what all of my hopes and dreams are riding on at this point.
As an alumnus of the BYU English department, what advice would you give to current students?
Engage with the faculty! I gained as much from BYU faculty outside of class as inside. They are the most dedicated educators/mentors.
Contact
johndoe@byu.edu