Faculty Shout-out by Steve Rachman
Ashleigh is an excellent student in my current Literature and Medicine class. Often students in this course fall into medical school side or the literary side, but Ashleigh is the rare student who is committed to both sides. A student of literature in earnest (she has a great interest in Irish literature!) and also a health care professional as she works in a care facility, Ashleigh is committed equally to both. She has produced interesting essays on the literature of the pandemic and also spoken with great power about the realities of caring for the elderly. Overall, she is a fine participant in class and I wish her all the best for the future.
How would you describe your time as an English or Film Studies major at MSU?
Becoming an English major halfway through my sophomore year at MSU was one of the most rewarding decisions I have made as a student. I always knew that I had a passion for literature. Still, I was unsure if transitioning from the College of Natural Science would even be possible at this point in my student career. With a little (really a lot) of help from the advisors in the English department, I not only found that it was much more attainable than I initially thought but more importantly, I came to understand that when you are passionate about what you are learning, success is also that much more attainable.
Which classes, instructors, or experiences particularly stand out for you and why? How did they prepare you for the next phase of your life?
As an English major, I have been given several opportunities to expand my learning outside of the classroom. The most significant is my time abroad in Dublin, Ireland, for my fall semester of senior year. As the literature capital of the world, Dublin gave me direct access to writers such as James Joyce, Yates, Seamus Heaney, and Oscar Wilde. Although I went alone to Ireland, it was not I, alone, that allowed me to travel there. The Department of Education Abroad, along with the English department, were quite supportive when it came to the logistics, even from our first meeting when I suggested it was something I had always wanted to do. Along with my study abroad experience, I have also had several instructors that have shaped my experience as an English major. Specifically, Dr. Sheng-Mei Ma, Dr. Guzzetta, and Dr. Rachman has been influential in their expression of their career’s work, which has simultaneously fueled my own passion, and ultimate love, for literature. As it is this passion, or rather, curiosity of literature, that has been the center of many class discussions, projects, and one-on-one conversations that have stayed with me throughout my time as a student and which I imagine, will continue to do so throughout my career.
What advice would you give future English or Film Studies majors, based on your experiences in the department?
The advice I would give future English majors would be to simply speak up and engage in the work provided by their instructors. Oftentimes as an English major, you are subject to independent work of reading and writing. Yet, the most important aspect of class is class itself. The interactions you have with the work or text, and in turn others within the class, are not only irreplaceable but also beneficial to your learning and understanding as a student.
What coursework-related projects were/are you working on this year, and what interests or excites you about them? (capstone courses, honors thesis, independent studies, etc.)
This semester I have been directing much of my focus to my capstone project, which consists of analyzing the editorial process of C.S. Lewis. As much of my interests now revolve around my time spent in Ireland, I am also completing two honors projects. One is on a critical edition of C.S. Lewis and the other is in regards to Lady Gregory and her works of Irish Folk medicine. The latter is a result of my Literature and Medicine class with professor Rachman, in which I am grateful that I am able to combine my love for literature and Ireland, as well as my previous interests in medicine. With this class specifically, I have also been able to draw bridges between literature and medicine within my own career as a student who was once on the premed track and who previously saw no similarities between the two.
What are your hopes and aspirations, post-graduation?
Post-graduation, I hope to ultimately continue to incorporate my passion in literature into every aspect of my career, no matter what that may be.