What I Have Learned From Grad School So Far

I've been in grad school for just over a month now. I know I still have an incredible amount to learn, but I do feel as though I have already learned quite a bit!

1. If you think you've completed and printed all your homework, check again. Two weeks ago, I had to scramble at the last minute to finish all my readings for Teaching College Comp because I forgot to read my syllabus and last week I missed turning in an assignment. I did it, but I forgot to print it. 

2. Reread everything. We typically have to read 4 stories for fiction workshop every week, sometimes more. In the past, I've been able to get away with reading assignments only once but when it comes to these in depth class discussions and analyses we have,  I've found that reading everything twice—if not more—is essential.

3. It's ok to step away every so often. It can become really stressful when you sit down to start working and your mind becomes overwhelmed by every assignment you realize you have to do. Take it one task at a time and when you feel like you need a break, take it. You'll find time to finish the rest.

4. Naps are good. It's crazy how tiring writing and reading can be! I'll do a few hours of it straight and need a nap to go on. Usually, I try to resist napping because I feel like there are too many other things I should be doing. But I always find that after I sleep for 20 minutes (sometimes 60) I feel more aware of my work and can focus even better.

5. Sometimes, you have to drink coffee at 9 pm. Especially if you are in class until quarter 10 pm and your eyes won't stay open.

Happy October!

I can't believe it's already October! But I'm oh so happy it is. This is my favorite month. I love the leaves and the cool weather. I love seeing pumpkins and gourds for sale at markets. I love the feeling of a new season and I love the yummy foods that come into season. Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, apples (Honey Crisp especially), apple cider donuts, and tangerines. It all tastes like Fall and it is my kind of comfort food. I added some pumpkin pie spice to my oatmeal this morning, just in celebration of this new month!

Today, Boston is cloudy and rain will be imminent all day. Yesterday was wet and chilly. The next few days will be the same but I like it. After a heatwave this past weekend, this really feels like Fall!

As you can imagine, AJ and I have been really busy lately. Every weekend there has been something keeping us busy. After we got back from our quick trip to Connecticut, AJ's family came for the weekend. This past weekend, my mom, godmother, cousin, and sister came to visit for the night and it was great! It's always fun having family around and they do so much for us when they're here. Plus, school and work take up just about all my time but I'm really enjoying my classes! I'll post more specifically on school later.

A few other fun things to note, it is now mine and AJ's wedding month! It is extremely crazy how quickly time has gone by since we started planning. It's so soon! And we're very excited and everything is coming together just perfectly.

Also, today is AJ's first day at his new job here in Boston! His start day had to be delayed due to the extremely slow processed of becoming licensed in another state but—the day is here! I just some him off this morning. I am so proud of him and can't believe how much he's done and how far he's come since the day I met him. He's amazing and I hope he really enjoys this job. I can't wait to hear from him and hear all about his day, but I have to leave at 5:30 for class tonight so I might just miss him!

Last month, I completely neglected this blog and—even though this month might be busier than last—I don't want to let that happen this month. My favorite month. I love blogging and I don't want to let this slip away and get lost in school and work. I'm going to work hard and try hard to keep this going and keep it interesting!

Posts on books, food, and school will be coming!

School So Far

Like I mentioned a few days ago, my first day of grad school went really well and it was really exciting! Since then, I've come to start to grasp how much work this semester, and probably the rest of my semesters as a grad student, will include. Not to mention...I got the TA job! I'm so, so very excited about that. I really want to have the opportunity to teach at the college level after grad school and I feel this is a great way to get experience, not to mention I'll be assisting a British Lit class in which we are reading some of my favorite authors and novels.

Plus, I've only had one out of my two classes so far and the work from one class alone feels like a big amount! I already talked about my homework for this week, and I just received the first story I'll have to critique for workshop on Wednesday. Now I've added a bit more work with the TA position—I am currently making my way through Book I and II of Sir Thomas More's Utopia, which is an essential read for a British Lit class, but I don't have it with me and I have to read it on my computer so it can be a little straining on the eyes. Regardless, as long as I'm reading or writing, I'm usually happy!

On My First Day as a Graduate Student

And what an eventful day it was! It started the same as any other with an early morning trip to the gym and plans to sprawl out on the grass of the Boston Common to get some sun. But, no, that did not happen. Instead, as I killed time on my computer waiting for it to get just a bit warmer, I received an email from a literature professor, following up with my application to be a Teacher's Assistant. I scheduled a time to meet with him, then regretted scheduling the interview for four o'clock, giving me five hours to think and worry about it.

But luckily, we did some stuff to take my mind off it. Around 11, AJ and I went to Brattle Book Shop. I picked up a short fiction anthology, edited by Joyce Carol Oates, and The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides, for $3 each!

From there, we walked over to Boloco at their Commons location where it was free burrito day! Neither of us have tried Boloco before, but every time I walk by I'm tempted to try everything! Their shakes, salads, bowls, and burritos all sound delicious and—with it being free and all—we decided it was the perfect time to try it out! The line was kind of long but we were there before noon and the line only got longer after that. AJ got a chicken teriyaki burrito and I got the chicken tikka masala burrito. They were both delicious and (we each got a small burrito) the perfect size. We will definitely go back to Boloco—it's free burrito day at their School St. location in two weeks. 

After that, all I had left to do was get ready for my interview and class. I changed into the most grown up outfit that was conducive to the sweltering heat. My shirt had birds on it but the skirt was J. Crew so I figured it worked. I went to the meeting, was there a little early, and talked to the professor about the job. It sounded great and he gave me a little assignment to do—grade a student paper—to see how I work and he invited me to sit in on the first day of class, which I did this morning. I felt surprisingly old, even though I was an undergrad just a few months ago! But I did feel pretty lucky to be taking a British Lit class for free! I haven't been offered the job yet, but fingers crossed!

After the interview, I ran home quickly, changed into jeans, ate a quick omelette for dinner before over packing my schoolbag with books, paper, a laptop, and lots of pencils and hurried back out to school. My class was on the 11th floor of a building on Boylston. I was in awe when I walked into the classroom, one whole wall was made of windows, giving me the best view the Common, the State House, Beacon Hill, and beyond. I was very distracted during class. 

Some of us were early and some other students filtered in just after 6 so we spent the first ten minutes or so doing a free write on the prompt, the best time of day. We didn't have to read it or share and it was a great way to start the class. I'm usually terrified of in-class free writes but this one came pretty easily for me! There are 12 of us in class, all of different ages and stages of life. Some people have been writing for a long time and are very experienced in workshops and some others are relatively new to fiction writing. 

The professor, Daphne, was wonderful and smart and made everyone feel comfortable. After the free write, we went around the room a few times to introduce ourselves, talk about our writing background, and who were our favorite authors to read. We went over the syllabus, which told us all how much work we will have, and made a schedule to workshop our fiction. We then read a great short story and had a discussion on it for quite sometime. The class is supposed to last from 6 to 9:45. Last night, we left class around 8:20 and I was in bed by 9:30 and I kept thinking to myself 'I would still be in class if this weren't the first day.'

We were assigned two short stories, one by Chekhov and one by Grace Paley, to read and prepare for discussion, two student stories to read and write critiques on, and we each have to write a 3-5 page story or story fragment which takes place all in one scene. I'm glad we have smaller writing assignments on top of the short stories we will write for workshop so that it doesn't feel like we only have to write twice a semester. My first short story is due for workshop on September 17th!

I'm looking forward to next week's fiction workshop and this coming Tuesday I will have my first day of my other class called Teaching College Composition. 

A Reading Challenge

I am the kind of girl who looks forward to the start of each school year and since I'm starting graduate school this year in a new place, a new city, with new people, and a new focus, my excitement has only tripled! As soon as I got to register for classes in July, I checked for any updates on my class schedule multiple times per day, hoping and waiting to see what classes I would be put into. I wanted to know what time my classes would be and where they would be held and who my professors would be so that I could try my best to visualize what these next three months of my life would look like.

When I finally got my schedule and eventually my teacher assignments, I researched them and found that I was already familiar with my fiction workshop professor, Daphne Kalotay. My mother gave me Kalotay's novel, Russian Winter, for Christmas two years ago and it has since sat on my shelf waiting to be read. I was extremely surprised and delighted to find that I would be studying under a writer whose work I was aware of and who I  knew was an accomplished and respected writer.

My first day of class with Daphne Kalotay is just under a week away and I've given myself a goal of reading all (or as much as possible) of Russian Winter by the start of class. It's a long novel, pushing 500 pages, but its content is intriguing and it jumps between settings—one of which is Boston—so I know that I will have no problem staying focused and interested. Not to mention AJ and I are in that place where we are waiting for time consuming distractions (school for me, work for him) to take over so I should have ample time to read, read read!

Hired!

This is the man who just got a job offer as a PTA! And on his very first try! Remember when I said that he went off on an adventure Friday? Well, now I can tell you that he was driving up to South Boston for a job interview. He had been contacted by Kindred Healthcare after he began the application process and they asked him to go up for an interview asap. So he did and it, obviously, went very well!

Come September, he will be working at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation Harborlights in South Boston, right near the beach! AJ and I have talked about living in Boston since very early on in our relationship, and it's crazy to think that our plans and hopes for that dream are coming true!

I'll be going to the grad school I had always hoped to attend and he will be working the job he loves in a facility that is perfect for his career plans. We feel so extremely blessed and are so humbled by the fact that what we have worked toward is being realized.

I am so proud of all his hard work and persistence. He deserves the world and I am so glad that he is getting it!

MFA Stuff

A little update. As some of you may know, the day that AJ and I moved to Boston for his internship back in March, I found out that I was accepted to an MFA Creative Writing program in Boston. From the moment that I received my acceptance email, my mind has been preoccupied with MFA related thoughts: what my classes will be like, all the writing I'll be doing, and what my future will look like upon graduation. If there's an article that has the letters MFA in the title, I read it. I can't get enough.

So, a few days ago, on a whim, I checked to see if any changes had been made to my previously blank class schedule for grad school. I was oh so pleasantly surprised to find that it was no longer blank! I have a schedule! And it's a wonderful one, too. I am taking two classes (they suggested only 2 for your first semester). One is Teaching College Composition and the other is Fiction Workshop. Each class is once a week for 3 hours and 45 minutes. I have class Tuesday night and Wednesday night and that's it!

Having my schedule makes me realize how soon school will be starting and that it is very real. It's coming! And it just so happens that in the same week I got my schedule, Bustle.com has put out two great articles regarding books and writing.

The first is about books that you should read before starting an MFA program. It's a great article but it freaked me out—I haven't read any of the books listed! I have to get on that. Now.

The next article is also about books. These, however, are books that you should read before writing your first novel. This might not be universal for all MFA students, but one of my goals is to write a novel (at least a draft) by the completion of my degree so this is a handy list!

I love articles that suggest great books for different reasons. I hope you enjoy these, too!

Currently Reading: Bellefleur

Most books are best read with a cup of coffee or hot tea. With Bellefleur, I've found that it goes best with a glass of red wine. I think this is because the book is decadent. It's full of luxurious and rich descriptions that are intriguing yet dark. This book is dark, as if every image is shrouded in clouds or a dark shadow.

Joyce Carol Oates, the author of Bellefleur, is the queen of literary gothic writing and this book is absolute proof that she is one of the greatest writers of our time.

This novel, more of a family epic, was published in 1980 but is timeless. It is 729 pages and I cannot offer you a summary of the plot. It is far to complex and is structured unlike most novels, comprised of five books and many chapters. It centers on several generations of the Bellefleur family and their enormous mansion in a mythic place called Lake Noir.

The characters are surreal, as are their actions. They are powerful, exclusive, and mysterious. The small yet distinct character traits are beyond creative: a grandfather who wanted his flesh stretched over a drum, an aunt who is never seen in the daylight, and countless other quirks. The characters are so imaginative and display qualities of magical realism that I find this book mirrors Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. There are small details offered to the reader throughout each page which seem frivolous, but all of them are built upon later and their importance is extracted.

Is is suspenseful and filled with symbolism. It's like a big, epic, literary ghost story. I was reading it in bed the other night and my cell phone vibrated on my bedside table. I was startled so badly because I was engrossed in a particularly suspenseful and frightening part.

I'm still very close to the beginning of the book, especially considering its length, so it will take me quite a while to finish but I'm not in a rush. This is a feat of human talent. I want to enjoy it and carefully read each word to get the most out of this tale. I've mentioned before that Joyce Carol Oates writes her novels out longhand and I can't imagine how a book this long could have all started with a pencil and blank piece of paper.

Books For Writers: An MFA in Five Books

There have been many times that I've expressed how important I think it is to get writing advice straight from a writer. And I'm about to do it again!

These five books are written by writers for writers and I think they are essentials to any writer's library. In the future I will do a post for each book individually, but for now I want to give you an overview of each. Even though I'm on my way to begin an MFA program in creative writing, I believe that these books will give any writer a good introduction to what an MFA program offers. All of these writers were or are successful and some of them have also taught in MFA programs. If you enjoy writing, are considering applying to an MFA program, or just enjoy learning from authors be sure to check out these books!

Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose. Out of the five books, this is the first one that I received and read. I had been eyeing it once I became obsessed with Francine Prose but I've always preferred reading fiction to nonfiction and I was unsure if I'd enjoy it as much. I got it for Christmas a few years ago and I sucked it up right away! Prose's advice, observations, and her opinions and analyses on other writers are golden. It's like hitting the advice jackpot. Not only is Prose a writer of all genres who has been successfully published many, many times, but she has taught both literature and creative writing in MFA programs. Who better to take writing advice from? Not to mention, the suggested reading list in the back of the book will inspire some serious reading. 

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. When you talk about successful authors, you cannot neglect Stephen King. This book allows readers to understand how King became a writer as he discusses his childhood and his recovery from a near fatal car accident. At times it does read as an autobiography but that's exactly what writers want to read from other writers. The tone of this book—confident, laid back, and open—leaves you feeling encouraged and as if you are partaking in a friendly conversation with King. Wouldn't that be a treat? Not only does King give out his wise words, he includes his own extensive reading list, a draft with his personal edits, and some interesting tidbits about his own life. Did you know he's in a writers-only band with Amy Tan? Me neither. 

Aspects of a Novel by E.M. Forster. One of the older books on my list, published in 1956, and reads much differently than the others. This is because the book is really a series of lectures on the different elements that form a story: story, character, plot, fantasy, prophecy, and pattern and rhythm. The writing is very clear and his suggestions are amplified and put to life with the many real examples he uses to prove his points. I include this book on the list because it is more structured and more focused on specific elements that are required for good writing. It's a bit more tangible and Forster's lectures can be put into practice using writing prompts. I also like that this is an older book because it goes to show that the art of writing will always be important and relevant. 

Letters to a Young Novelist by Mario Vargas Llosa. Just thinking about this book makes me happy and makes me want to write. I find that it is also the most uplifting and encouraging book on this list. This book is truly written in the form of letters, intended to encourage a young writer to maintain their creative desire while imparting his wisdom along the way. His insights are original and well-crafted. The book itself is rather thin so it will not take a long time to read, but you will close the book feeling satisfied and educated by a brilliant writer. Also, the length of this book will allow you to read it time and time again and I promise you that you will be driven to do just that. Do not be fooled by the word 'young' in the title. This is not meant for preteen or anything of that sort, it is meant for a writer who might be a novice or who needs encouragement. If that is you, this book will do wonders to the way you view writing. 

Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande. While this book is like the others in the way that it discusses prose and writing technique, it focuses more on cultivating good writing habits, reading like a writer, and getting into the psyche of a true writer. Brande claims that any writing problems are blamed on the personality of the writer. It approaches the line of being a self help book, not to improve your writing but to mentally turn yourself into writer. Brande provides exercises and examples that help her readers tap into the unconscious in order to dig deeper creatively. Another old book on this list, it is inspiring because it includes countless pieces of advice to make yourself truly believe that you are a writer. This book is perfect to round off this list. It has elements that are truly unique to Brande's approach on writing advice. 

Currently Reading: The Bell Jar

Remember when I said that Ficciones was not an easy read? It's not an easy read, it is hard. I'm struggling and I'm almost ashamed to say I am setting it aside. There are so many books that I still want to read that I don't want to get bogged down by one that I just can't pull myself through. I'll pick it up again one day but for now I have moved on and oh, what a great book I have moved on to.

I feel like this book is one that all girls should read at whatever point in their lives. I'm surprised it has taken me this long to finally read but I think I am at the age where I can appreciate it more thoroughly.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath follows the path of Esther Greenwood, a Smith college student who suffers from depression and mental illness. The story begins when Esther is living in New York City and working at a magazine during the summer before her final year of college. That plot would be story enough, but Plath takes us through Esther's life when she returns home to Massachusetts for the rest of her summer during which time her mental state continues to decline.

I'm over halfway through the book at this point because it is impossible to put down. This morning I had to force myself to get out of bed, not because I was tired but because I just wanted to lay there all day and read about Esther.

The depiction of the way her brain works is clearly drawn and makes her depression understandable. Her suicide attempts are extremely detailed and almost excruciating to read, you feel for her so deeply and you want to help but there's nothing you can do! It's painful but I think it's important for people to read, especially because these scenes are written by a woman who dealt with her own depression and internal demons.

I won't go in to much more detail so that I'm not repeating myself when I write a review once I finish the novel in it's entirety, but this book is very similar to Pamela Moore's Chocolates for Breakfast so if you enjoyed that, you will enjoy book too.

Again, this is a book that many, especially female English majors, have read by the time they hit their twenties and I think that's phenomenal. This is a book that everyone should get their hands. You will find yourself in Esther if you have ever dealt with depression. If you have never had to deal with mental illness, you will be shocked and awed at this depiction of it. I think that in the world today, there is so much discussion of mental illness, that it will do every well to have a great understanding of it. Reading this novel is the perfect way to begin to grasp this issue.

Shakespeare Saturdays: In Disney

Our last Shakespeare Saturday discussed the movie adaptations of Shakespeare plays. This week, we'll discuss how the plays have snuck their way into the most beloved Disney movies of our childhood. Believe it or not, there are an abundance of references to Shakespeare in these classic animated films and today I'll disclose just a few!

1. Beauty and the Beast. This is my favorite Disney movie and when I caught the reference to Romeo and Juliet in an added scene I loved it even more! At the end of the added song, 'Human Again', you can hear Belle read the last lines of Romeo and Juliet's epilogue: "There never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo." At this moment, the Beast asks her to read it again and you can hear her state, "Two households both alike in dignity..." It's a sweet moment between the characters and is a reflection of their relationship.

But that's not the only one in Beauty and the Beast! During the fight song when the villagers are getting ready to kill the beast, Gaston says, "Screw your courage to the sticking place," the same lines Lady Macbeth states to her husband in Act I Scene VII as she encourages him to pluck up the courage to kill the king.

2. Aladdin. This is undoubtedly one of the funniest Shakespeare references! After Aladdin asks Genie to make him a prince, the Genie is suddenly dressed in a toga and laurel wreath with a dagger and says, "Et tu Brute," the same thing Caesar says to Brutus in Act III Scene I of Julius Caesar.

3. Oliver and Company. This film of lovable mutts features Francis, the high brow bulldog, who in one scene is caught watching a television production of Macbeth. His monologue, one of Shakespeare's most famous, from Act V Scene V, "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow" is heard from the television. These words mirror the plot of the movie, the dogs are awaiting the impending arrival of the film's evil antagonist, Sykes.

4. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Fittingly to the themes of this film, Disney's darker animated movie contains a references from The Merchant of Venice. Victor, a gargoyle, says to Quasimodo, "Yet if you kick us, do we not flake? If you moisten us, do we not grow moss?" These lines are modeled after Shylock's famous speech in Shakespeare's play: "If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?" This play is an appropriate one to fit into The Hunchback of Notre Dame because it focuses on conflict between Christians and Jew while the movie focuses on conflict between Christians and Gypsies in France.

5. The Little Mermaid. Another allusion to Romeo and Juliet! During the boat scene where all the animals are trying to convince Eric to kiss Ariel, Scuttle says he needs to perform a vocal romantic exercise. He starts to squawk a version of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet instrumental.

6. The Lion King. This is perhaps the most obvious Shakespeare reference because the story is just that of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Mufasa and the King are both killed by their brother, Scar and Claudius respectively. Then their son, Simba and Hamlet, is visited by his father's ghost and is led astray by a duo, Timon and Pumba from The Lion King and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Hamlet. The endings are the same, too. Simba and Hamlet both return to avenge their father's deaths and take their throne back. Thankfully, Nala has a very different fate than that of Ophelia.

Currently Reading: The Group

I really did just start reading this book but it's one I have been eagerly anticipating! Written by Mary McCarthy in 1963, it's the story of a group (of course) of girlfriends who graduate from Vassar College in 1933. I'm less than a full chapter into the story (it has really long chapters, but still) and I can already tell that this is another one of those books that is an absolute treat to read! McCarthy's word choice is impeccable. It's so smart and witty and impossibly perfect for her characters and for the feel of this novel. The girls (there are 8 of them in 'the group') behave just as you would expect a group of Vassar graduates from that day to behave. All of them are interesting and a little quirky and even a bit envious.

The story begins at the wedding of Kay, one of the girls, to a man named Harald. It is a week after their commencement and following the reception, all of the girls will go on their own way through the adult world. Some go to Europe, some go into publishing or nursing, and some go on to form new relationships. McCarthy follows the paths that the girls travel through their lives apart and they are only brought back together when one of the girls dies.

Some call this McCarthy's best book, which is saying something because she has a large repertoire of extremely praised books. So far, I am greatly enjoying this novel. Something people who might want to read this book should know, I do not view this book as a light, summer read. The paragraphs and chapters are long so you have to be able to devote good chunks of time to reading it. Also, the verbiage requires constant and close attention so it is not easy to read if there are other distractions present otherwise you will find yourself going back a bit in the book to reread things you may have missed or to find out who is speaking. I don't mind any of that, the content of this book is well worth the necessary attention. The only thing that is troubling me about the novel thus far is the abundance of women in the group. As I said, there are 8 of them and I often am confused as to which girl belongs to which previously written backstory or character description. However, I am hoping that as I continue reading it will become more clear.

I definitely recommend this book to women that are interested in the lives of academic women of the past, to anyone who enjoys a witty novel that requires some concentration, and to anyone who loves good prose and a well-written sentence.

AJ Graduated!

Sorry for the not so great photo quality, but that's usually what happens at graduations. Dodging other people's arms and cameras to get your shot in before the graduate leaves the from, hence the photo on the bottom right. But the photos are only a very small part of the big day that was had yesterday. On May 22, 2014 AJ graduated from NCC with a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant after many years of extremely hard work! It was such an exciting day because he worked so hard to get here. I can't stress that enough and it seemed like the celebration and acknowledgment of that was long over due.

First, there was his pinning ceremony with the other students in his program. The families were able to attend and we sat in the PT room at their lab tables and had a little lunch before the professors spoke and then AJ even delivered his own speech that had many in tears! Everyone came up to him after to tell him how great it was and I was, of course, very proud.

After they were all pinned and many photos were taken, AJ's parents, siblings, and I headed outside to the tent where the entire school's graduation was held. It was long and crowded but I would have sat there for days just to see AJ's happy face when he walked across the stage and his full name was read correctly! I stood up and shouted as he got his diploma and he saw me and waved.

Just as everyone was leaving the tent, it started to thunder and downpour so we hurried to his family's house, changed into sweats. His mom started making us soup to warm up and AJ poured us glass of Hoegaarden beer (it was my graduation gift to him—he got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers that included my favorites, ranunculus!). His mom and I split one, and he and his dad each had their own.

Tonight is his real graduation party and it is only fitting that this celebration last more than just one day! I am so proud of his hard work and I am extremely proud to be his fiancee!

I Graduated!

Ok, so I really graduated in January but on May 18th, 2014 I walked across the terrace of Bellarmine Hall at Fairfield University whilst my name was read into a microphone and I shook the hand of our school's president, Father Von Arx.



I wasn't sure if I was going to walk because I had already graduated and I've been away from school for so long anyway, but it was important to my mom and grandmother and it was actually important to me, as well. It's a big life moment and it really is an experience. It is something to be savored and recognized. College was hard work and it is nice to have it be celebrated.



I LOVED my time at Fairfield. I transferred there at the beginning of the second semester of freshman year and I was a commuter student. Because of these factors, I don't feel like I was a huge part of the Fairfield community. I was only on campus for my classes and occasional lectures throughout the semester. I didn't go to parties or live in the dorm but I still loved my college experience, it was the perfect fit for me. I can not even describe all that I learned while at Fairfield. I read Dante, Shakespeare, Joyce, Woolf, Dickens, and the Bible. I was introduced to ideas and thoughts and practices that I was never privy to before. I owe a lot to my education at Fairfield. I had wonderful professors who really love their area of expertise and who you could tell love teaching. I had so many experiences that are priceless and will aid me in my future as a student, as a writer, and as an academic.