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“Words, written and spoken helped ease my culture shock transition from life in Yemen, to high school in New York. As a practicing Muslim who is passionate about writing and literature I was not surprised to learn that Allah’s second creation was the pen: the pen that has grown to become my number one companion. Being in the English Honors program is an honor as much as it is an asset to my journey in the academic world of literature and research.”

–Orubba Almansouri

“A senior majoring in English literature, I developed a passion for writing a few years after I moved to the United States from Ghana. Since then, I have dedicated my time to either writing poetry about my migratory experience or analyzing and researching the representations of African immigrant women like myself in texts written by these women. As an English Honors student, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in literature or Africana studies, a medium which will allow me to contribute to the study of the changing identity of African women in the diaspora.”

–Rachel Amanda Ansong

“I chose to be an English major because I love to create things. I think that English majors understand people and possess a special insight because we observe people. It’s important to me to be a part of the Honors program because I want to do it all as far as writing is concerned, and I just think it will be so exciting and uplifting to be around other students who are passionate about English literature and writing.”

–Jermaine Brown

“Originally it was the rhythm of both the Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets that attracted me to English literature. I was amazed by how Renaissance poets manipulated language within a rigid sonnet structure to invoke questions about human development, gender (identity) politics, and the religious warfare of the time. Naturally my interest in literature has expanded, and my analytical skills have blossomed to view how literature as a whole is in many ways a vehicle to interrogate the social progression and the human condition of the world we live in. I am truly delighted to be a part of the City College English Honors Program where I am surrounded by peers and knowledgeable professors who bring to light the importance of literature in daily life. This program fosters a wonderful community of aspiring academics, which has made my undergraduate experience all the better.”

–Imani Cooper

“I chose to be an English major because I’ve had a lifelong passion for books and want to turn that love into a career in publishing. Being an Honors student will give me more opportunities to delve into the passion further. It also gives me a chance to further hone my in-depth reading skills – exactly what an editor needs!”

–Julianne Daly

“I am pursuing the English literature major because it’s flexibility allows me to organize my interests in English, German, French, Italian, Ancient Greek, and Latin literature into a program of study at once unified and structured. Being in English Honors is important to me because it affords formally the opportunity to develop my own body of research while under the mentorship and guidance of the brilliant and diverse faculty of the English department.”

–Zachary Hayworth

“I entered college knowing that a B.A. in English was not the most practical degree I could obtain, but my love of literature was so intense that I had no desire to pursue any other subject. I think that if I really excel as an English major, I will be able to make a career out of literary studies. That’s why I joined the English Honors Program. The program challenges me in ways that help me to excel as an undergrad and will surely be immensely valuable in my postgraduate endeavors.”

–Jess Hoffman

“Studying English is important to me because it allows me to gain better insight into certain places and times. Beyond that it is a valuable lens into humanity in general. English Honors is important to me because it provides me with the opportunity to show my dedication to the major with a thesis project. This thesis will represent my entire undergraduate career as I move forward to pursue my PhD.”

–Tamra Lepro

“I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing, so majoring in English—concentration in creative writing—was a natural fit for me. As an aspiring editor, I think my English classes, particularly the courses I have taken through the Publishing Certificate Program, will prepare me for a future career in book publishing. Being an English Honors student is important to me because I want to further challenge myself academically. I think the process of writing my honors thesis will be a rigorous yet rewarding experience.”

–Chrisinda Lynch

“I chose to be an English major because I loved to read from an early age. In high school, one of my favorite subjects was English, and I had teachers who supported and fostered my love of books, and taught me how to think critically about them. I hoped that this would continue in college, and it has! Being an English Honors student is important to me because I had the ability to work closely with one of the many amazing faculty members of the English department. Another reason that being an English Honors student was important to me was that I could create an undergraduate thesis of my own choosing and go in depth on an area of study that I particularly liked.”

–Jamie Mallette

“Perhaps more than for any other reason, I am an English major because when I am done with my school assignments and can devote my time to anything I like, I still choose to read literature. Majoring in English has allowed me to embrace this passion, and I hope to continue embracing it while pursuing a doctoral degree in literature. Through City College’s English Honors program I have conducted independent research in my areas of interest—eighteenth-century British literature, Feminist Theory, and the Gothic—and developed it into an expansive thesis paper. This is a great training opportunity for anyone interested in pursuing graduate studies in English.”

–Mayelin Perez

“I have chosen to pursue and English major because of my passion for writing. My studies of literature and writing techniques have given me tremendous insight into the craft of the great writers, which I have used to develop my own skills. Additionally, I have learned critical reading, precision writing, and communication skills – all of which I apply to a multitude of situations in and beyond the classroom. Being a part of the Honors Program grants me possibility to refine my writing and presents exciting challenges that will help prepare me for my personal and professional endeavors.”

–Maximilian Rief

“I chose to be an English major because I wanted to improve my writing in hopes of becoming a respected author. I mostly focus on fiction. It is important to me to study the literary giants that always loom large over the writing community. I have benefited greatly from my instruction in creative writing workshops, as well. The English Honors program has allowed me to register for graduate-level seminars, and has granted me extra, individual attention from the excellent faculty in the English Department.”

–Darin L. Rummel

“Being an immigrant, I struggled to learn English. As an English major, I am able to further improve my knowledge of the English language. In fact, I believe there is no better way to learn than to explore various dimensions of literature available to me as a student. As a part of the English Honors Program, I can explore the literature available to me with a mentor at my disposal. In addition, I am very excited to write a thesis on a particular subject, expressing my opinions and supporting it by extensive research.”

–Kathlen M Sanchez Dos Santos

“My goal in becoming an English major has been to expand and build on my passion for creative forms of communication. My focus has primarily been to study the works of prominent writers and elevate my own authorial aspirations. Through my acceptance into the English Honors program, I feel my collegiate developments have been rewarded. It is important to me that I validate the achievements I’ve made as a student at ����Ӱҵ. I am eager to pursue the challenges ahead of me and take full advantage of opportunities this program has to offer.”

–Carly Trunkwalter