Submitted by Hope College senior, Piper Daleiden
What do you do now? And we’d love to hear a bit about how you got there as well.
I am an editorial assistant for the Business, Computing, and Career Education team at Goodheart-Willcox in Tinley Park, Illinois. Graduating from Hope in 2020 made finding a job a bit difficult. I worked on a farm and then at a staffing agency before landing an interview at G-W. I started as a publishing intern on the BCC team for six months before taking a few weeks to participate in NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute. After returning from the program, I transitioned into my current role. My job includes assisting the editors on my team with their projects as well as working on some of our career titles.
How did your Hope English education shape you?
My Hope English education shaped me by helping me to hone and improve my writing and critical thinking skills. It brought me into a great community of professors and peers who pushed me to learn and grow in every class. I look back on my time in the English department with fondness and pull from the things I learned (both in and out of the classroom) every day.
What advice would you give to current English majors or students considering an English major?
Don’t be afraid to take classes that scare you or are out of your comfort zone. I was skeptical when I walked into my memoir class with Dr. Burton since I didn’t really like talking about myself. It ended up being one of my favorite classes and introduced me to a new style of writing that I wouldn’t have previously thought too much about.
Favorite book read recently or in college?
House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin A. Craig. It is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale that combines fantasy and horror. It kept me in suspense the entire time, and I couldn’t put it down. Even though I read it over a year ago, I’m still thinking about it. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out over the summer!
Do you have any special animals in your life?
While I don’t own any pets myself, I get to hang out with my family dog–Dakota–almost every week. He is a seven-year-old black lab who keeps us all on our toes with his puppy energy. I’m also a loving cat-aunt to Tatum and Dale, who belong to my roommate and her fiancée. They love to fight with each other and provide entertainment and snuggles on the daily!
What warmth. It felt so good “listening” to each of you!‼️🌱