Faculty Shout-out by Zarena Aslami
I was fortunate to have Michael in two classes. His papers always displayed a creative acuity and real facility with ideas. I also came to count on Michael to offer original and nuanced comments in class. I first met Michael in my Introduction to Literary Theories course, where I had the chance to observe this intellectual nimbleness. Next, he took my 300-level Victorian Plants course. There, I was happy to observe his unique and refreshing analytic skills develop even further and be shared with a new group of peers.
How would you describe your time as an English or Film Studies major at MSU?
Unexpected. I enrolled at Michigan State with the intention of becoming a veterinarian, and somehow I found myself graduating with an English degree. The shift was subtle. One night during the summer before my sophomore year, I typed out the beginning of a fantasy story. It was my first attempt at writing something non-academic, but for some reason, I couldn’t stop. I began funneling my electives into English classes to improve that story. After taking ENG 226, a creative writing course, I wanted nothing more than to write every day and bring all my magical worlds to life on the page. Then the unexpected happened—again. During senior year, after declaring English as my major in hopes of becoming a fantasy writer, I enrolled in ENG 423 — Advanced Creative Non-fiction Writing. Thereafter, I began a new journey as a non-fiction writer. During my time as an English major at MSU, I stumbled upon something special: writing. And I’m grateful to all my classmates and instructors that made this path possible.
Which classes, instructors, or experiences particularly stand out for you and why? How did they prepare you for the next phase of your life?
Without a doubt, ENG 226 with Jessica Stokes and ENG 423 with Tim Conrad stand out as the most formative classes I took. ENG 226 pulled me into the world of writing, and ENG 423 helped me discover who I am as a writer. As I apply to jobs in education and journalism, I can confidently say that these courses paved the way for life beyond college.
What advice would you give future English or Film Studies majors, based on your experiences in the department?
Experiment. I enrolled in ENG 423 precisely because I didn’t want to. Writing nonfiction seemed dreadful and boring, especially since I was set on writing high-action fantasy. But I took the class because I didn’t want to graduate college as a writer without knowing how to write about myself. What surprised me was how much I grew. Even if ENG 423 had ended with me continuing solely as a fantasy writer, the skills I learned — how to write setting, how to portray people, how to be vulnerable on the page — have greatly improved my fiction. Ironically, the course I resisted most became the one that helped me find myself as a writer.
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.)
My capstone project — which I consider my first real writerly project — is a collection of nonfiction essays that explore gender and sexual identity through the lens of childhood video games. If you had told me during freshman year that this would be my final project, I probably would’ve hurled my exorbitantly priced Animal Science textbook at you. But that’s the beauty of growth. This project excites me because it blends personal narrative, cultural critique, and play. It’s not only a reflection of how far I’ve come as a writer, but also as a person learning to tell their story in unexpected and meaningful ways.
What are your hopes and aspirations, post-graduation?
Simply put, I aspire to keep growing as a writer. Even though I’ll no longer be in a classroom — unless I decide to pursue an MFA — I hope to continue expanding the network of writers I’ve built during my time at MSU and to keep pushing myself creatively. I’m deeply grateful for this community I’ve found here, and I know their influence will continue to shape my work long after graduation.