We are always excited to hear from English majors and find out a little more about what they’ve been up to since they left Second Laird. In this issue we catch up with majors from two different eras, Casey Markenson (’12) and Stacy Swain (’86). See Casey’s responses here–and here are Stacy’s answers to the same questions.
1) What are you up to right now? Both professionally and more holistically?
About eight years ago, I left my work in the field of public health to study to become a minister, ordained in the United Church of Christ. In March, I finished my fourth year of serving the Union Church in Waban (Waban is one of the villages of Newton, Massachusetts). I am fortunate that my professional work is in consort with my own more personal holistic goals which involve trying to live an integrated and balanced life of mind, body and spirit that is in service to others.
2) How has your english major impacted your life? Both professionally and more holistically?
I think story telling is a primary way that we interpret our lives and make meaning of them. Being an English major helped me develop an ear for listening deeply to the word beyond the words and an eye for seeing patterns and themes that shape the narratives being told. As a pastor, part of what I try to do is help people see their lives as a part of the great story of love and forgiveness that is for me the heart of the great faith traditions, and interpret and make meaning of their own personal narrative in light of that love and forgiveness.
3) What is one text you read as an english major that has really stuck with you and why?
Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own.” Finding and claiming one’s authentic and uniquely gifted voice is at the heart of what I think discovering one’s true vocation is all about and I heard this most clearly from Woolf in this writing. As I get older and as my life gets fuller and fuller with responsibilities remembering that I also need a metaphorical (and sometimes quite literal) room of my own away from the noise and the clutter, to hear and be informed by my voice, gets even more critical.
4) What was your favorite class you took in the english department and why?
Thinking back, I cannot say I have a favorite class. I appreciate the variety and texture of it all.
5) Is there any piece of advice or tidbit of wisdom you learned from an english class/professor that has stuck with you? If so will you share?
It was a morning class and a rather small one at that. I think maybe no more than a dozen students. Early American literature I think. Anyway our professor had this habit of sitting cross legged on the large wooden table at the front of the class while the rest of us sat in the first couple of rows of chairs. On this particular morning, it was not more than ten minutes into the class when a classmate, front and center in the first row, nodded off. At first his head just bobbed, but then he leaned forward and laid his cheek right down on the desk for a deep, full drooling sleep. The rest of us students tried to ignore him, embarrassed for how rude it was for him to be asleep right in front of the professor who was just digging into some great teaching. But, when his head descended to the desk, our professor stopped talking. We held our breath cringing at how horrified this student was going to be when the professor shouted at him to wake up. But instead the professor, tilted his head and looked at the student a while. And then slowing getting up off the table, the professor motioned us to quietly gather at the back of the classroom. When we had all regrouped he said in a soft voice. “Can you imagine how exhausted he must be to have fallen asleep like that? The least we can do is let him get a good nap and I am sure more than one of you will be willing to share your notes with him.”
That kindness has stayed with me. That decision not to rush to judgment but instead take time to consider; not to criticism but instead to empathize, not to single one out but to gather one in has always stuck with me. I don’t remember the lecture the professor ended up giving that day, but I have never forgotten how deeply instructive his compassion was.
6) What is one piece of advice you would offer current english majors?
Slow down. Don’t rush. Look for beauty and enjoy!