I come across lyric essays by complete accident. I was in a class that Professor Marks taught, "Intro to the Essay," thumbing through the anthology essay book used in the class, looking for inspiration for my next essay assignment, when I came across "Son of Mr. Green Jeans" by Dinty W. Moore. I had never read anything like it before and became hooked. I hadn't known that what I had read was a lyric essay, or what a lyric essay even was, until Professor Marks taught about them in the last block of the semester in her class. She covered it well in the short time that she had, but I couldn't help but feel that my fellow students and I had only scratched the surface. It sparked an interest in me to learn more about lyric essays, and motivated me to pursue this project. 

As a Writing major and English minor at Ithaca College, I have taken several classes that specialize in reading, analyzing, editing, and writing in multiple genres of literature, from poetry to literary journalism. These classes have honed my writing and analytical skills, especially in creative nonfiction, and helped make me capable of researching and composing essays competently on my own with Professor Marks. In addition, as a rising junior, I am more than familiar with the construction and experience of a college writing class. I know what a student just being introduced to a genre of writing -- in this case, lyric essays -- would need to read, how much/what work to give them, and other writing class aspects, as I am currently one.

I have also worked as a staff writer for a couple of on-campus magazines, giving me practice with working/writing on a tight schedule, and won second place in the Creative Nonfiction section in the Ithaca College Writing Contest in the spring of 2017. 

My other involvement on-campus includes being Treasurer for Macabre Theatre Ensemble (a sci-fi/horror theater group), and participating in the fencing club and the Ithaca College Gamer Symphony Orchestra.