I heard a fellow English student describe the atmosphere of the English department by remarking that nearly every professor leaves their door wide open even when they are working. The message they send is clear: They are eager to get to know students, to guide and help them. I was one who took advantage of those open doors and because of them, my time in the department was so valuable. Those office hour talks molded my research interests, but they also fueled my enthusiasm for a variety of subjects. The English professors’ passion for what they were teaching was contagious and just as important as any practical advice they gave on essay writing. The department instilled in me a desire to constantly improve my work, but not because it was exacting or competitive. All around me, my teachers and peers were lecturing, studying, and writing out of genuine curiosity and passion. I became (and still am) eager to imitate them.
