Hi, I’m Danielle! I’m a double major in English and Spanish, which basically means I love language in all its forms. I’m from the suburbs of Chicago, but moved around a lot as a kid, and packed up boxes full of books each time.
Growing up, I always considered my love of reading to be part of my introverted personality. It was something I did alone—secretly reading the entire summer reading list instead of picking just one book, laughing along with my classmates about using SparkNotes when in reality I had read every page of the book. It wasn’t until I came to USC that I realized my love of reading could connect me with a community. My secret love became a shared love.
There was never any doubt in my mind that I would be an English major, but I never could have anticipated the incredible community I would find in the English Department. I found myself surrounded by eager classmates who actually did the reading, being taught by professors who truly cared what we had to say. While many of my friends were stuck in giant lecture halls, I was crammed into tiny Taper classrooms with the desks arranged in a circle for discussion.
Some of my most cherished USC memories take place in those same Taper classrooms. From studying “The Second Coming” in my freshman year English class to graphic novels in my senior seminar, I’ve gotten to push my love of literature and analytical abilities to new bounds. I’ve been introduced to authors and texts that expanded my worldview. I practiced reading empathetically, thinking critically, and writing effectively. I gained the confidence and the vocabulary to defend my opinions. I learned how to stand up and speak up, and when to sit down and listen. And I will take those lessons with me well beyond the walls of Taper Hall.
I owe so much of my growth these past four years to the exceptional English professors who have let me sit in their offices for too many hours to count. By senior year, the fourth floor of Taper was no longer a frighteningly long and confusing hallway—it was a place of familiar faces, where I got to catch up with past professors and collaborate with current ones. Thank you to Professor Bea Sanford Russell for letting me chase my Shakespearian curiosities, to Professor Susan Segal for solidifying my editorial passion, to Professor Hilary Schor for letting me write entire essays on a single word, to Professor Sara Sligar for supporting my scholarly pursuits and career goals. Most of all, thank you to Professor Melissa Daniels-Rauterkus for nominating me for this award and being a truly inspiring mentor. Your classes helped me discover a new passion, our conversations helped me find my own voice, and your guidance made it possible for me to finish my thesis in the midst of a pandemic.
I have a friend who, for four years, has said to me, “You’re the only person I know who truly loves their major.” Which, to me, has always been equivalent to saying, “You’re the only English major I know.” Because I think all of us truly love our major, and that is something rare and, quite frankly, extraordinary. Reading has always been my way of making sense of the world, and the world makes a lot more sense knowing my fellow book lovers are out there.
As a USC alumna, I plan to pursue a career in the field of publishing. I hope to become an editor at a book publishing company where I can continue to read and engage with meaningful stories, and help those stories find their place in the world.
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