Late (but great!) Start

Going back to college in my late 30's after a 20 year break with four children at home...I was nervous.

But I decided to take courses that I knew I would enjoy and would also help me on my path toward finishing my bachelor's degree. 

My very first class back in college was a literature class, and it was fabulous! I looked forward to it every week and it helped me feel like I had a place in college. I took courses in literature and creative writing and developed greatly as a thinker and a writer.

My pieces have been published in the Black Rock & Sage creative journal 2021, 2022, and upcoming 2023 issues. I won the Ford Swetnam Poetry Prize in 2021 for the poem, "Soldier's Wages." All my best creative work came out of the courses I took in creative writing at ISU. If I could have, I would have majored in all three English tracks!

But...

With a divorce in the works, I decided to finish my bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing with a minor in music (piano). 

One component of the program that was truly life-changing was the capstone internship requirement. I worked with one of my professional writing professors, the English undergraduate advisor, and my supervisor to design an internship that worked with my position as an office aid in the College of Arts and Letters Dean's Office.

This internship experience opened me up to so many opportunities within the Dean's office. I began helping with marketing and writing journalistic stories for the college. I was fortunate to have so many wonderful people willing to give me a chance and opportunities.

This internship and the skills I had gained through my liberal arts education led directly to my first post-graduate career position. After graduation, I got a job as Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the College of Arts and Letters, and it draws on all the skills I learned in English. It also allows me to support myself.

I am currently working toward a Master of Arts in Communication degree. I will graduate with my master's in 2024 and my career is on a great trajectory. I love the English department and ISU!

Elisabeth Curtis | BA English, Professional Writing | Class of ‘22