Here at The Coterie, the ITR season is all about re-affirming our love for language and literature (Read Part I of the ITR series!). So again we bring you some more stories from our members about what brought them to the English and Writing Studies program and why they are glad it happened:
"If you aspire to become a writer, then a degree in English Language and Literature is the one for you! This doesn’t mean that your dreams have to involve becoming an author one day —it just means that you want to communicate and express yourself better through words. It’s a valuable skill that you’ll have the opportunity to hone in this program and use for the rest of your life.
An English degree may seem like it’s entirely about reading books and writing about them (which it is), but it’s also much more than that. The classes you take delve into a broad array of topics that reflect our own world. You learn about history, philosophy, psychology, culture, and society by reading literature. I came into university trying to figure myself out, and surprisingly, it was the literature that I read and studied in class that gave me the answers to questions that I had throughout my own life.
It opened up many doors for me. I know that a common response to saying you’re an English major is, “well what are you going to do with that degree?” and the truth is that you can do anything! The work you do as an English major is a great background for a future in communications and marketing. It’s a great background for journalism. It’s a great background for any career that involves creativity and critical thinking. The broadness can be scary but it’s also what makes it worthwhile —you’ll have the tools and the space you need to build a unique path for yourself.
My years at Western of pursuing an Honours Specialization in English Language and Literature are coming to an end, and I can confidently say that I recommend it to anyone who is considering it. If you love to read and you love to write, there is no better program for you!"
-Isabella Elias, Publications Manager
(Hons. Specialization in English Language and Literature)
"I’m a second-year in English and Writing Studies and it has been one of the most enlightening learning experiences ever. I really wanted an English education that explored literature and writing more extensively and in-depth than throughout high school. My understanding and critical analysis skills have developed greatly in the English and Writing courses I’ve taken, and I always look forward to my new courses each semester. English and Writing are also just a lot of fun! The discussions and readings incorporated in my courses have inspired my love for new genres of literature and I’ve found so many more amazing authors to enjoy. In my first-year English course, we read The Bluest Eye. It was an amazing novel and I absolutely loved analyzing it in class, especially because it was a book by a WOC author and a different perspective than the usual authors I’ve read in school. A diverse curriculum is important to me and I’m glad that we’re reading and discussing authors like Toni Morrison in class. My courses have prioritized introducing a more diverse curriculum than my English classes before post-secondary and the professors have been teaching us about writers and works that are a refreshing break from the majority of white male perspectives of past literature (Shakespeare is still a great read, though)."
-Destiny Hopkins, Social Media Commissioner
(Hons. in Criminology and a Major in English Language and Literature)
"Gaining insight into a character’s inner world and their place in society is a magical experience that is unique to the work in an English degree. Writers go into so much artistic detail regarding the characters’ thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Reading about them is like experiencing them as a part of yourself. I think this is an experience that increases people’s empathy and reduces their ego. The reader is exposed to characters that are completely different from themselves and this increases open-mindedness and critical thinking.
As a young person, it is impossible for me to truly understand the experience of age myself. By entering the inner-world of an older character, I can empathize with their successes and regrets. I can deduce the causes for their jadedness and feelings of defeat… possibly prevent these things from happening in my own life.
In literature, students read about really difficult situations in an attempt to understand them. The outcast is an archetypical character that many authors have written about. Instead of dismissing them, English students understand them. Often, ‘outcast’ characters are relatable or appear innocent, asking us, in turn, to reassess societal values and norms that condemn people as such.
There are also more “practical” reasons to study English. English and Writing Studies students develop argumentative skills that empower them to persuade clients at work! Furthermore, we’re taught to understand people profoundly and efficiently. As they say, if one person works on a skill for only 30 hours a week, they will never catch up to someone who has paid attention to their argumentative skills for 70 hours a week! That theory is not entirely correct, but you won’t know why until you actually do the work… "
-Jothie Muraleetharan, Outreach Officer
(Double Major in English and Biology)
"I initially chose English and Writing for superficial reasons. I thought I’d read a few classics, write a poem or two, and graduate as the same person—if slightly better read—as I entered.
But this department is so much more than that. In my two years, I have learned the true value of healthy debate, the fundamentals of criticism, and the incomparable versatility of a comprehensive understanding of the humanities. This degree is about so much more than essays and books—it is about empathy and creativity and culture. It is for anyone who wants to better understand the world around them.
By all means, choose English if reading feels like more than a hobby, or if Writing is more than a creative outlet. Just be prepared to get more out of your English and Writing experience than you’ve bargained for. I have the utmost pride in being a member of this program. "
-Mary Hamilton, Academic Coordinator
(Hons. Specialization in English and Creative Writing)
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