This is our final post in our 2021 Senior Showcase series. This week’s blog features Hannah Jones, Kaijsa Johnson, and Natalie Weg. Congrats to all of our 2020-2021 grads!
Hannah Jones
What year do you plan to graduate? I’ll be graduating in May of 2021.
If applicable, what are your major(s) and minor(s) aside from English? How do you see your English major impacting/influencing your other major(s)/minor(s)? I am a double major in English and Women’s and Gender Studies. I think that the main bridge between both subjects is empathy through story. For my English classes, I’ve read many books that have expanded my worldview and engendered empathy, and for WGS, one of the main aspects of research is listening to and affirming people’s lived experiences. Both fields are also concerned with language and power, and how language and having the ability to name things can be so liberating.
What is your favorite book/short story/etc. that you’ve read for class at Hope? My favorite story that I’ve ever read at Hope is Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. As far as nonfiction goes, Audre Lorde’s essay “There is No Hierarchy of Oppression” is probably my favorite.
What are some research interests/topics you like to study? Right now I’ve been focusing a lot on my post-grad plans of library school, so my current research interests sit at the intersection of librarianship, feminist pedogogy, and social justice.
What are your plans for after graduation? After graduation, I’ll be attending library school to get my MLIS. After that, I plan to be a librarian.
Kaijsa Johnson
What year do you plan to graduate? I am graduating Spring 2021!
If applicable, what are your major(s) and minor(s) aside from English? How do you see your English major impacting/influencing your other major(s)/minor(s)? I am also a psychology major and communications minor. My English major has been beneficial for my majors in college by helping with analysis, writing papers, and an overall better vocabulary and sentence formation. I can only see my English major helping me even more outside of college.
What is your favorite book or author? My favorite book would have to be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It has so many plot twists and an overall unique way to convey a beautiful message. However, my favorite author would have to be J.R.R. Tolkien. The worlds he creates are spectacular and the fond childhood memories I have of these worlds are near and dear to me.
What is your favorite book/short story/etc. that you’ve read for class at Hope? I had Professor Jesus Montano’s class American Ethnic Literature and loved every second of it, especially considering it included my favorite poet Li-Young Lee and his poem “Persimmons.”
What are some research interests/topics you like to study? New Historicism and Postcolonial Studies.
What are your plans for after graduation? I’d love to get a job in publishing or in the editorial field.
Why did you choose to study English? My family is full of English majors so I’ve always gravitated towards English. However, it was Dr. Burton’s Introduction to Literary Studies that truly solidified my passion and desire to be an English major. Her class was so engaging and enjoyable that I wanted to aim for my college career and future career to be as exciting as my first English course.
How has your English major impacted your worldview? How has it shaped you? English is really unique as it transports me to cultures and worldviews from my own standpoint and outside of my own little world. Not only does it do this by means of reading about cultures and worldviews outside of my own, it gives my culture and worldview a different angle as it could be written through another individual with the same or much different. It also gives me tools and techniques to analyze my own worldview and others, especially with my Intro to Lit Theory course “lens” of analysis (such as feminism or postcolonialism).
What advice would you give to someone considering a degree in English? Go for a class that interests you! You can’t go wrong with any English course offered here. The English professors here at Hope are some of the most fascinating and kind professors you’ll ever interact with. If you’re not confident in your English skills, an English class is a great way to start progressing your writing and literary skills for whatever future you have in mind. You never know, something in English may catch your eye for a future career or passion! If papers aren’t your thing, you may find them more manageable with something you’re intrigued by or passionate about.
Natalie Weg
What year do you plan to graduate? I just graduated this past semester, November 2020.
If applicable, what are your major(s) and minor(s) aside from English? How do you see your English major impacting/influencing your other major(s)/minor(s)? In addition to English, I also majored in Global Studies and minored in French. My English major helps significantly with my other academic areas because it equipped me with skills to analyze different forms of literature (even in French) and communicate effectively through my own writing.
What is your favorite book or author? My favorite books are The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Mark of the Lion series.
What is your favorite book/short story/etc. that you’ve read for class at Hope? My favorite book that I read at Hope was Nothing to Envy for Dr. Tan’s course in Modern History of Korea and Japan. It talks about life in North Korea from the perspectives of North Koreans who lived under the dictatorship in the ’90s and early ’00s and their changed perceptions of their nation after defecting from the country.
What are some research interests/topics you like to study? I am interested in learning about topics related to cultural studies, especially East and Southeast Asian cultures. I also enjoy learning about anything that focuses on historical events and political systems.
What are your plans for after graduation? I applied for a Fulbright to teach English in South Korea. Even if I’m not selected, I still hope to teach English abroad for a year or two! After that, I hope to pursue a career as a Foreign Service Officer working for the Department of State.
Why did you choose to study English? I honestly chose to study English because my high school teachers suggested that I should pursue it. I was hesitant at first because I didn’t want to spend my entire time writing papers, but I knew that I love reading and analyzing literature. (Don’t worry, you don’t write papers all the time).
How has your English major impacted your worldview? How has it shaped you? I’ve had several professors and teachers instill in me the idea that while the sciences can study the tangible world around us, English allows us to study the intangible: the human soul, emotions, and universal experiences. Because of this, I’ve learned to focus on the similarities that connect us and bring us together, regardless of cultural, geographic, and temporal boundaries.
What advice would you give to someone considering a degree in English? Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything with an English major! And there always is the option of attaching an English major to any other interests you may have. It’s so important to take advantage of the liberal arts opportunity that allows you to explore several areas of study.
Have a great summer! Congrats again to all of our graduates!