Department of English

At HSU, I became a true academic. The world-class faculty put the right materials in my hands, challenged me, and taught me how to join the conversation. Equally important was how much they believed in me. The teachers helped me believe in my own talent and resilience, nurturing a sense of self-efficacy that has carried me through various challenges. The Writing Practices track was particularly helpful in this regard. The classes elevated my writing to a professional level—but just as importantly, they provided me with a structured creative outlet. I truly credit this program with helping me integrate what I was learning and experiencing at a crucial time in my development, creating a strong base for me to build from. Since graduating, I have continued to pursue my love of English in all its forms. I got a teaching certification in Rome, then taught EFL in a town just outside Venice, Italy for a year. During that time I also took graduate classes in linguistics at Ca’Foscari University, and enjoyed connecting with international colleagues over a love of language. When I returned to the states, I began teaching ESL at a school in San Francisco, where I got to work with students from (almost) every continent! During the pandemic, I worked on finishing my master’s degree, and this May I graduated with an MA in Linguistics and a Certificate in the Teaching of Composition from San Francisco State. I am now able to apply all that I have learned at my position teaching English at Fusion Academy SF, and I plan to pursue a doctorate soon as well.