Introducing a Visiting Writer

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and of course, college being fairly busy and fast-faced, a lot has happened in that time! One of the things that stands out most, though, is that I got to introduce a visiting writer.

Susquehanna’s writing department brings in a series of visiting writers each year, spanning across genres. These writers do Q & A sessions with students in the afternoon and then have a reading in the evening. At each reading, a selected creative writing student always introduces the author before they take the stage. I was surprised when I received an email from the head of the department asking me to introduce Alison Stine.

Alison Stine is a poet who has had two full-length collections and one chapbook published. For my Advanced Poetry course, we read her book Ohio Violence, which I enjoyed. Though I was honored that my poetry professor had thought to refer me for this task, I was also very nervous! I still don’t feel as if I’m very articulate when discussing poetry, and I felt like I had no idea what or how much to say. Thankfully, the introduction started to shape up when I began thinking about my personal connection with Stine. Stine, particularly with her first collection, explores some teenage female experience, and in interviews, had really embraced a young readership. I loved that. I, too, write about young female experiences. In my collection for Advanced Poetry right now, I sometimes examine figures of teenage pop culture (Nick Jonas, Corbin Bleu, etc.). Other poems are inspired by my experiences, as a teenager and as a young adult, of trying to measure up to standards of what a “good Christian girl” should be. These aren’t necessarily the topics poetry critics are always interested in—but Stine’s work reminds me that I don’t need to write for them and that these youthful experiences can be imbued with beautiful language and complexity. Finding this connection allowed me to tap into a passion that I think, judging by some of the comments I received after the reading, really came across in my introduction.

Because I was introducing Alison Stine, I was invited to go to a dinner before the reading with her and some of the Creative Writing faculty at BJ’s. This was a bit nerve-wracking for me because I’m not the most extroverted person. However, I think it went well. I also was able to bring a friend with me (who is much more extroverted than me fortunately), which made it more comfortable.

This scenario, along with this whole semester, has led me to reflect more on what it might be like to pursue poetry professionally. Though I’ve been growing more and more comfortable considering myself a “poet” as my time at Susquehanna goes on, I think this semester I have spent much more time imagining being a professional poet as a possibility. One day—possibly—I could be the person giving a reading and being introduced by a student. Over winter break, I plan on going through the poetry I’ve written for my Advanced and Intermediate poetry workshops and finding poems I think might be ready to be sent out to magazines. In the world of poetry, you usually need a number of poems published before you can pursue chapbook-length or book-length publication, so this is an important step. 

I have one poem that is forthcoming in an issue of a small journal called the Saint Katherine Review, which I look forward to seeing in print. Last year, my Intermediate Poetry professor recommended the journal as a place to submit one of my poems. The editor of the review is Scott Cairns. Just recently I picked up some of his poetry from the library, and I am loving it so far! He tackles religious and spiritual subject matter in a beautiful way. It’s exciting to know that someone whose work I admire has read my work--and it's particularly exciting to think about a future where there may be many more people who read my work (even if that poetry audience is quite smaller than fiction or nonfiction's).   

Scheduling For My Final Semester

Last Friday, the newspaper was in my mailbox. Yes, the newspaper. The registration newspaper. My final one.  

The Friday before a course registration period begins, Susquehanna students all receive a list of the course offerings printed on newspaper. This information is online, but it’s handy to have in paper form—something I think Susquehanna students agree on, judging by how often I’ve seen students consulting it or circling things in it. Registering for my final set of Susquehanna courses is a big reminder of how short of a time I have left as an undergraduate. 

When students register for courses, they can consult something called a “degree audit” that shows all the required courses that students have left to take, including courses for majors, minors, and the university’s Central Curriculum. In past semesters, I always had a list of requirements to consider. Now I only had a few items! That's a great thing because it means I will graduate on time. However, it still feels very strange. 

The requirements I have left are an Oral Intensive course for the Central Curriculum (which I plan on fulfilling with a Modern Philosophy class), an English course called Forms of Writing that I need for my Creative Writing major, and the senior honors program requirements, which include a senior honors seminar and some type of research. The research requirement will be filled by the Capstone, or culminating project, I’ll be taking on in the Religious Studies department.  

All of these courses will amount to 14 credits. A standard credit load here is 16 credits, though people may take as little as 12 while remaining a full-time student. Many students exceed that 16. Right now, for instance, I'm taking 18 credits. Next semester I may have time to add an additional course, though it wouldn't be required. That course would probably be New Testament with one of my favorite religion professors. A part of me, though, thinks it might be better to stick with my 14 credits and dedicate more time to my independent study, especially since I will definitely be taking classes dealing with the New Testament if I end up going to seminary. One of my options might be auditing the class, which would mean sitting in and participating but not getting credit for the course and not having to do the homework.

Looking forward to next semester, I’m most excited about my independent study—though I’m a bit intimidated as well. I’ve decided to do a 4-credit independent study which means it’ll be quite a hefty paper. I believe my advisor told me I should expect to write around 40 pages. This makes me wish I'd completed more of my research over the summer like I had planned. Perhaps I’ll be able to get some more preliminary reading done when I’m home over Winter Break. For my project, I will be studying dating advice and approaches to pre-marital romantic relationships in American evangelical Christianity. I’m especially interested in focusing on the concept of “emotional purity” and the boundaries places on emotional intimacy within these relationships.  I’ve already looked at When God Writes Your Love Story by Leslie and Eric Ludy and Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship by Joshua Harris, some of the popular titles in Christian nonfiction addressing these topics. This independent study should be great preparation for the work I hope to eventually be doing in graduate school. 

I met with the advisor for my Religious Studies major yesterday, and this afternoon I will meet with my Creative Writing advisor. Afterwards, I'll be able to register online. Unlike some other colleges, registration isn’t a first-come, first-serve, dog-eat-dog ordeal. Rather, the Registrar’s Office figures out who gets into what classes by class year, requirements that people need fulfilled, etc. I won’t know right away, then, about what courses I get—though, as a senior who needs almost everything I’m taking to graduate, I'm assuming I won't have any difficulties.

Right now, I'm just hoping this isn't my last course registration period ever and that a few months from now I'll be doing this from graduate school--a beginner again.

Advanced Poetry

All Creative Writing majors must take at least one advanced course during their time at Susquehanna. I chose to take Advanced Poetry, which would surely surprise my freshman year self who was so set on taking Susquehanna's novel writing course. Advanced Poetry has about eight students, and it’s a night class that happens once a week. During class, we usually discuss at least one book of poems, do some sort of poetry exercise to generate more material, and workshop (which is discussing someone's work and critiquing it) some of our classmates’ poems. By the end of the semester, we will all have completed drafts of book-length poetry collections. This means writing a lot of poems—about fifty pages or so of material!

In our class, we are aiming to create coherent collections revolving around some central ideas, images, themes, or sources, rather than collections that are merely our best work slapped together. The thread holding my collection together keeps changing as I continue to work on it. At the beginning of the semester, I had decided I wanted to use pop culture, specifically pop culture aimed at a female teenage audience, as a source. I turned in 4 poems for workshop that were pop culture-inspired. After my workshop, I didn’t feel as if my subject was working. The poems weren’t conveying what I wanted them to say--mostly because I wasn't sure what I wanted them to say. I knew, though, what people were reading into it wasn't what I had intended. I decided to go back to the drawing board and was attracted to the idea of sacraments. Writing about pop culture had been my attempt to remove myself from my usual subjects—religion, theology, etc.—but I was drawn back anyway!

During my next workshop (for this one, I had to turn in fifteen pages of poems), my professor and some of the other students suggested that I could bring these subjects together. Their comments have allowed me to see a broader concept behind my collection. I intend to explore topics like performance, the truth or transformation that accompanies performance, ritual and worship in religious and pop culture settings.  I also felt encouraged by that workshop to dive into my subject matter on a more personal level. The poems I submitted to my class bounced around between different fictional speakers, but many were reading them as if they were one speaker and wanted to know more about that speaker. In my next set of poems due for class, I'm experimenting with drawing more directly from my own experiences. 

This Friday, I’ll be turning in that next set of poems--another fifteen pages. It’ll be interesting to hear what the class has to say! I’m not quite sure how I feel about many of these poems, so I think whatever their reactions are, it’ll be a lot of help.

Right now the prospect of finishing a book-length poetry collection is fairly daunting, but I’m sure I’ll be happy I was pushed to do so when I have so much to work with once the class is completed. I hope this will provide me with the motivation--and the material--to more seriously pursue poetry publication.

Working Out That Whole Future Thing

This year has involved a lot of trying to figure out what my future might or should hold. This isn't a unique characteristic. Plenty of seniors are on the same boat as me. However, that doesn't make it any less stressful! 

I know I’m interested in continuing my study of religion and theology at the graduate level and would love, one day, to be a professor in that area. However, the job market for higher education isn’t great, so I’m trying to determine how I can follow my passion for theological and religious studies in a practical way that can lead to a career. 

Originally, I had been looking at Master of Arts programs in Religion and a Masters of Theological Studies program. These are primarily academic degrees that serve as preparation for a Ph.D. My plan was to pursue one of those degrees, if I was given funding, and discern from there whether or not I wanted to continue for my doctorate; if not, I wanted to use that academic background in a church or non-profit setting. When I went to my professors for guidance, however, they gave me more options to consider. Some encouraged me to look at Master of Divinity degrees from seminaries as well. These would still allow me to pursue a Ph.D., if I desire, but open the doors to more opportunities in the church, non-profits, etc. 

Now, as I look at my list of graduate schools I’m applying to in the U.S.,  it’s primarily seminaries! One of my professors even suggested I consider ordination as a possible option. I’m far from sold on that idea, though it’s scary to even have floating in the back of my mind. As someone who grew up in the Roman Catholic church, being a priest was never really a career option I could mull over in childhood. It is something available to me, however, if I join the Episcopal church, which feels increasingly likely.   

This semester so far has shown me that, even as a senior in college, I still have a lot to figure out in terms of vocation. I appreciate that I’ve been able to seek out my own pathway in community with others. This year I’ve gotten involved in our campus’s Pre-Ministry group, which meets biweekly to discuss topics like vocation, ministry, and serving God in our future careers. I’ve loved being able to have these discussions with fellow students and our interim chaplain.

At a meeting last Thursday, our interim chaplain shared with us the story of discovering his vocation. A group of us stayed afterwards for a chat about life, God, vocation, etc. I didn’t leave with a particularly clear idea of where I should go for the future—but I did leave feeling excited about God and the relationships I have on this campus. 

Overall, it’s amazing to think about how much my plans have changed (even if they aren’t definite) over the course of four years. As a freshman, I entered college with a set career path in mind. My main professional goal was to be a novelist who wrote young adult fiction. I assumed, to make a living, I would enter editing and publishing. Over my four years, I’ve realized that I don’t have a strong interest in being involved in the publishing business (besides one day being a published writer hopefully) and that there might be other career paths better suited for me. I spent some time considering being a librarian and an archivist before feeling, eventually, that both of those weren’t for me either. I found that I kept returning to the idea of graduate school for religion or theology in my head. I kept wanting to write this off as impractical, but the idea has pretty much grabbed hold of me. As you can tell from the rest of the post, I’ve decided that I need to at least give this idea a chance and see where it might lead.

Whether or not grad school will even be a financially feasible option, when acceptance and rejection time comes, remains to be seen. But I’m excited that I’m giving myself a chance to see.  

My Last Homecoming Weekend (As A Student)

This past weekend was Homecoming Weekend at Susquehanna. During Homecoming Weekend, alumni return for the Homecoming football game, dancing, and other activities. This year I have participated in Homecoming events more than I ever have. It was also the most excited I’d been about Homecoming.

Homecoming was a much different experience for me as a senior than it was as an underclassman. As a senior, there are actually alumni I know to be excited about seeing. We had two alumni who stayed at our house this weekend, and of course, we ran into other alumni as well. We even had some alumni who were seniors  when I was a freshman stop over at our house. It’s so strange seeing them and realizing that we’re actually seniors now. When I was a freshman, seniors seemed much older and more put together than I feel I am now.

Another difference was that I actually attended the Homecoming football game. During my freshman year, I attended the first football game of the season, then left out of boredom by half-time (or maybe even before ). I hadn’t been to a game since, so I’ve been determined to go to a full football game this year. I have to admit, I failed at actually seeing the whole thing. I was a little late after grabbing lunch with one of my housemates and two alumni and then left a little early for the Homecoming parade. However, the time I was there was fun—not that I was paying attention to the game particularly well. My strategy is usually just to “Woo!” whenever other people are.

I had also never participated in the Homecoming parade before. During the Homecoming parade, different organizations have floats or walk with banners fitting the theme for the year. This year’s theme was traditions of Susquehanna University. We walk through Selinsgrove while alumni, current students, and interested community members watch. The path this year was a short one, I’m guessing because it was raining!  The rain was unfortunate considering all the hard work people put into floats and banners, but I still had fun walking behind the Religious Life Council banner. The Religious Life Council is the umbrella organization for various campus ministries and religious groups, like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Pre-Ministry club. Our banner was decorated in the spirit of the Christmas Candlelight service, which is one of Susquehanna’s biggest traditions. Before winter break, there is a huge Christmas service at the chapel with singing and, as the name suggests, candles.  Each of us walking with the banner held a white candle that is used in the service. It was fun walking in the parade, but I wish I had been able to see all the other floats and banners.

The next big event was the Homecoming ball on Saturday night. It’s always fun to have a chance to dress up formally—especially since I did it cheaply as well; I just reused a dress I wore my sophomore year for the Alpha Phi Omega formal. The ball was also a different experience from the TRAX dances that I’m used to because alumni were there, it was in the gym, and it had a live band instead of a DJ. After the ball, TRAX hosted an after party with more dancing and breakfast foods. It was a strange experience to have bacon at TRAX around 1 a.m.—though not a bad one!

Yesterday things felt more routine. I went to church in the morning, then went to brunch with my housemates and one of our alumni friends. After, we went back to our townhouse and hung out for a while before both of the alumni staying with us headed home. The last event I went to this weekend (non-Homecoming related) was an evening Bible study at the home of my two professors.

It’s surreal to think that I’ll be an alumna the next time I attend Homecoming. I’ll be the one staying on the couch in some current student’s suite and reuniting with all my college friends. I really wish I could stay as a student longer—but I know that I’ll be so excited to be back on Susquehanna’s campus the first time I return for Homecoming. I am not sure, though, when that return will be. Next year I could be in Ireland or Scotland or England. I could be in grad school somewhere states away and not able to make it up for the weekend. Or maybe I’ll be an hour away, at home in Pennsylvania. Though I may end up a bit delayed in returning to Susquehanna, I know that I still will return (as soon as I can) —and I hope it still feels like home.

"Why You?"

Why you? 

Why you instead of some other honors student with a great GPA and extracurricular activities?

These were the types of questions posed at my on-campus interviews for postgraduate fellowships. The fellowships I applied to--the Rhodes scholarship, the Mitchell scholarship, and a Fulbright grant--would all allow me to pursue graduate work abroad with full funding. All three fellowships are competitive, and tackling the application process felt like a long and stressful process.

This process began last spring semester when I went to talk to our postgraduate adviser, Dr. Fourshey, about possibly applying for a Mitchell scholarship (to earn a one-year masters degree in Ireland) and a Fulbright award. There are Fulbright grants available in multiple countries, so I had to narrow it down to the award I wanted. I was drawn to a program in Finland and a program in Scotland, but decided, ultimately, to apply for the award in Aberdeen, Scotland.

This summer, while I stayed on campus to work for University Communications, I got a start on these applications, but not as much of a start as I probably should have. There was still a lot of personal statement writing and editing to do once the school year started–as well as securing recommendation letters!

When I was talking to one of my professors about my plans for these fellowships, he strongly suggested I apply for the Rhodes scholarship. It felt like a long-shot, but at his recommendation, I decided to give it a chance anyway. I am very much a believer in the There’s no harm in applying maxim. Of course, I didn’t have as much prepared for the Rhodes as I had the awards I’d been planning on applying to for months. I had to do my research, write more, and get some additional recommendation letters.

On top of having to get these applications completed, I also had to do an on-campus interview for each of the three fellowships. These interviews were conducted by our postgraduate adviser and other faculty and staff members. The main purpose of these interviews was to help our adviser write a letter of endorsement for us. For all these fellowships, an applicant needs the approval of their university to really be considered for the award. The interviews also served as a time to get feedback on how our proposals are perceived and as a way to practice for the interviews we might get if we make it to the semi-finalist or finalist rounds of the application processes.

The question of “Why you?” was really at the heart of all these interviews—and I’ll admit, it was a consistent challenge to answer.

For all three awards, I’m looking at masters programs related to religious studies and theology that would serve as preparation for a Ph.D. and an eventual teaching career. They could also lead to work in church or non-profit leadership. I feel capable and well-suited for all three programs and believe I’m a great student….but still wasn’t sure why I should get the awards over anyone else.

Through this process, though, I have gained some insight into that “Why you?’ question. During the Rhodes application process, for instance, one of my professors helped me realize something unique I can bring to the table as a theologian: my perspective on evangelicalism. Many people are solely interested in bashing or defending evangelicalism, but I am of a small circle that is interested in engaging constructively with evangelicalism. He also helped me see the broader context in which my work in that area might be important. Evangelicalism is a significant demographic in terms of Christianity and in terms of America, and evangelical theology has a tremendous impact on the political, social, etc. choices of its adherents.  Through my other applications and interviews, I began seeing some of the ways I’ve been a leader on campus. While I may not have racked up many titled leadership roles, one professor helped me see the ways I’ve functioned as a leader in the classroom. I’ve also come to realize some of the ways I’ve exhibited moral leadership. The comments and questions at the Fulbright interview also helped me articulate my personal passion and connection with the topic I'd be exploring in church history. 

From the beginning of the application process, our postgraduate advisor has mentioned how many students feel as if they know more about their selves and what they want for their futures after going for these awards, whether they win  or not. I am hoping that this consideration of the “Why you?” question, and the reflection it has prompted, will be of some use to me, whether or not I receive any of these fellowships.

I am grateful that now these applications are all finished. It felt very hectic while I was working on them, but things got done! Now I just need to work on my U.S. grad school applications (a post about that will be coming in the future) and wait.

Life in 18th Street Commons

The complex's common room

This year I am living in an on-campus townhouse with two of my friends. The townhouse complex are called 18^th Street Commons. Residence Life has been referring to these houses as “transitional housing” since they are designed to help upperclassmen adjust to life after college. I think these houses are a great option for college seniors. So far I am loving my experience.

Most of Susquehanna’s campus is on one side of University Avenue. 18^th Street Commons is on the other side, which houses fewer campus buildings. It is also home to the Writers’ Institute, the art studio, our Natural Sciences Center, and one residence hall, North Hall. However, most of campus—the majority of academic buildings, all the other residential buildings, the gym, library, campus center, etc.—is located across the road. The location of 18^th Street Commons contributes to the feeling that it’s a step removed from typical campus life. At the beginning of the year, as my friends and I took the crosswalk across the street and headed down the sidewalk path to 18^th Street Commons, I often made jokes about entering “upperclassmen world.” There is certainly truth to that, since most people in 18^th Street Commons are juniors or seniors.  


The townhouse complex itself doesn’t look like campus housing. As someone who has lived in townhouses before, it reminds me of past neighborhoods. The insides don’t look like dorms either. Instead, they look much more like homes. Each 18^th Street Commons townhouse has a living room, a kitchen (with a full-sized refrigerator and oven!), and a small dining area, in addition to bedrooms. Carpeting in the bedrooms and accent walls on the downstairs level contribute to the homey feeling.


Of course, the quality of your experience with on-campus housing often depends on the people with whom you’re living. I’m so happy I get to spend my senior year living with two of my closest friends on campus.I have a feeling I’ll be very emotionally attached to the house by the time I have to leave it in May. Because my friend and I lived in it while working here over the summer, I’ll have been in it for close to a full calendar year, rather than just an academic year; it's already full of fond memories and I'm just about 25% done with senior year. Plus, it’s so cozy! I doubt any apartment I’d be able to afford after graduation (assuming I’d be able to afford moving out of my parents’ place at all) would be as nice as our townhouse.


Check out 18^th Street Commons on Susquehanna’s Virtual Campus tour to get a sense of what I mean: http://www.susqu.edu/tour/?marker=7282. 

Senior Year!

Sorry for the silence! I’ve somehow managed to get to Week 5 of my senior year without updating this blog.

It’s been a busy few weeks since I’ve started back at school. I spent the summer in Selinsgrove, working full-time in the University Communications office and living in my on-campus townhouse with a friend also working over the summer. Summer in Selinsgrove is a much different animal than the school year. Though I worked forty hours a week, I had a lot of free time to spend on some not-so-productive activities, like watching the Pretty Little Liars series and wedding shows with my housemate. Campus was also much quieter and emptier. I found that pretty eerie the first few weeks, but I adjusted. Getting used to the bustle of campus again was actually pretty jarring after those summer months.

The harder adjustment, of course, was to the bustle of school year life!

As a senior, I’m trying to figure out post-graduate plans. That has been a priority since the school year has started. This summer I began working on applications for fellowships that would provide me with funds for graduate school internationally. Specifically, I am applying for a Rhodes scholarship, a Mitchell scholarship, and a Fulbright scholarship. These applications are due in October, and I will certainly be relieved once they are submitted—though the stress will continue if I am offered an interview for any of the scholarships. I’d be very grateful for that type of stress, however!

I am also hoping to apply to U.S. graduate school programs, though that’s been temporarily placed on the backburner as I scramble to complete fellowship applications. I know that I’m interested in studying theology or religion at the graduate level, but I am still struggling to determine what my exact plans are, particularly after earning a Master's degree. Some of my professors suggested I look at seminary programs, which offer a Master of Divinity degree. This type of degree might lead to more job opportunities than a Master of Arts in Religion or a Master's in Theological Studies. Throughout the semester and year, I think I will still be trying to figure out what the best pathway for me is.

I recently joined the Pre-Ministry club on campus which meets every two weeks to talk about issues like vocation and careers that involve our faith. I am hoping I will gain more clarity on the next steps I want to take through participation in the group. Our interim university chaplain (who is also one of the Religion department’s professors) is planning on being involved with the club. I am excited to gain some more insight from him on my plans this year.

Of course, I have also been juggling my classes as well. I am taking Intro to Judaism, a Religion course called Faiths and Values, Advanced Poetry, Intro to Statistics, and a senior creative writing capstone class. Intro to Judaism has probably been my most interesting class so far and I think, in the long-term, it will be very beneficial to me, especially since I have an interest in interfaith dialogue. I also love that it is being taught by our campus’s rabbi, Rabbi Palley.

In terms of social life, it’s been great to have friends back on campus that I missed all summer. Spending time with my friends has been a great calming factor in the midst of all the senior year chaos I’ve experienced so far. I’m excited for all the fun memories we’re going to accumulate together this year, and I’m not so thrilled when think about us leaving each other for whatever life has in store next.