My love for storytelling began at a young age. I grew up listening to my father, a Danish immigrant, read me Scandinavian folk stories every night. My Grandma, an Italian immigrant, put paint brushes in my hand as a little girl. I’ve always been drawn to the way that color and word come together to create image and narrative.
In high school English, I found myself incredibly moved by the words of Virginia Wolff, Sylvia Plath, and Charlotte Brontë. English class was a type of sanctuary, the only classroom I could fully connect to—emotionally and intellectually. When I transferred to USC as a Creative Writing major, I felt like I had finally found myself. Making the decision to believe in the power of language and transfer to USC with the intention to study English was the most life-changing, uplifting, and empowering moves I could have made. I never looked back.
It was in my first poetry workshop that I felt a deep fulfillment enter my heart. I remember my first poetry assignment. Professor Irwin asked the class to write a sonnet. Naturally, I plugged in my headphones and took an Uber to Downtown LA. While walking, I wandered into a wedding-cake store and found myself inspired by a couple plastic people standing on top of icing. It was in that moment that I realized the incredible opportunity I had before me—I was committing myself to a life that I had always dreamt of. Here I was, in a cake store while listening to Ariel Pink, turning plastic people into metaphors for a class assignment. The next day, I submitted my first poem to workshop. I have been hopelessly addicted to the feeling of being part of a community that is centered around sharing poetry ever since.
Fast forward a couple months, I was in Paris with Professor Irwin and other poets for the May-mester “The Poet in Paris.” It was in Paris that I fully began to connect with the students at USC. Today, I consider those students some of my closest friends.
I am mostly grateful for the people I have met at USC. Professor Mark Irwin’s guidance motivates me to continually push myself. His commitment to poetry has deeply influenced my desire to keep writing, no matter how intricate my vision may be. Professor Susan Segal’s Introduction to Fiction Writing and Editing for Writers class inspired me to fearlessly and truthfully write my story. Her invaluable guidance and lessons will always be an incredibly cherished part of my experience at USC. Also, Professor Elda Román, Professor Melissa Daniels-Rauterkus, and Professor Thea Tomaini have all empowered me to continually ask questions and innovate. I am so lucky to have had to opportunity to learn from such uplifting individuals and to have attended a university where my curiosity was never dulled—only sharpened.
After I graduate, I plan on attending the July creative writing program at the University of Edinburgh. In the fall, I am hoping to move to San Francisco and apply to MFA programs. I am excited to continue sculpting the muscle of language—to follow that pulse of inspiration that happens whenever I am reading or writing poetry.
Photo by: Steve Cohn © 2019
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