English Alumni Stories
16 results found
Read widely. Explore the world. Be open to other people and experiences, and also hold your sacred experiences and people close.
"BYU's English department pushed me as a writer, which means it pushed me as a thinker, because those two go hand in hand."
"In the children’s publishing industry, I’m the whole package—I can write and illustrate. I had an easier time getting an agent because I can do both."
"It's actually pretty surprising to me how many people hate writing. I love writing. And I think a talent in writing sets you apart in tech."
"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."
"Communication—specifically written communication—is super important, especially in reading and understanding law documents."
"It still surprises me how much learning to interpret text helps me to analyze symptoms, and make diagnoses."
"As an English major, I loved being able to see the different perspectives that you can find and how a story can be told in so many ways. I’m very grateful that I learned that as it has helped me keep an open mind and be able to work well with people of various backgrounds."
"I think my education prepared me most of all for navigating and appreciating so much about life. How to think critically, ask key questions, and write and read in a versatile way."
"Concise and clear documentation is essential in medicine, and my English major prepared me well for that. As I'm developing research, I also find that persuasive writing is critical."
"I’d wished I’d known that it is okay to want to be a writer. It is a valid career choice, and can be even more so when it is paired with other concrete skillsets that one can gain at BYU. "
"I can see multiple ways a piece of text could be read and cultivate it to be as clear as possible to the reader."
"As an English major, I learned how to analyze something and ask questions. This has proved to be key for my success in my career."
"There is a need for qualified professionals who write well. You can find a company with benefits, opportunities for growth and management, interesting subject matter, and great colleagues."
"I realized one of the things that drew me to an English degree is that I loved hearing people's stories, understanding diversity considerations in people's lives, and have face-to-face meaningful conversations with other people."
I have gained many tools for communicating ideas clearly, which has helped me in teaching positions, writers' rooms, and as a wife and mom! Critical thinking and communication have been instrumental in every interpersonal relationship in my life.