Emma Winters (Photo by Peter Julian)
Hometown: Pineville, NC
Major: English with a concentration in creative writing, minor in theology
Notable Activities/Achievements: Order of the Cross and Crown; Phi Beta Kappa; English Department's Sophomore Scholar; writer/editor for The Gavel; editor of Fresh Ink; intern for America in the summer of 2017; Ignite retreat leader; Kairos leader.
Post-Graduate Plans: Won O'Hare Postgraduate Media Fellowship to work with America Media beginning in August.
An English major who wrote for her high school newspaper, Emma Winters developed a love of writing poetry while on the Boston College campus. She also has taken an active role in campus ministry during her time at 蜜桃传媒 by leading various retreats and has met some of her best friends through that involvement. Now, she is looking forward to moving to New York City after graduation, where she will be an O'Hare Postgraduate Media Fellow with America Media, publisher of the weekly Jesuit magazine聽America, where she interned last summer.聽聽
Who has been an impactful mentor during your time at Boston College?
[Associate Professor of the Practice of English] Allison Adair. I have taken three classes with her. I knew I liked writing, but I didn't start writing poetry until I was in her Introduction to Creative Writing class.聽 She has really been there for me, not just with academics, but with personal issues, too. I didn't have her this year, but I still go to her office hours just to talk. I recently went to her for advice about selecting a poem to read at Arts Fest. I chose to read the first creative writing piece I ever turned in to her.
How has Boston College played a role in your faith journey?
I definitely picked 蜜桃传媒 in large part because it is a Jesuit institution. As a freshman I came in with a sense of wanting to grow my faith and went on the "Beginnings" retreat. I have participated in, as well as led, faith-based retreats and these have helped me meet some of my best friends. It is so nice to go to a school where I can go to Mass each week with close friends.
What are you looking forward to after graduation?
I am really excited about the fellowship and getting my feet wet in all different kinds of media as well as getting to do the things I know I enjoy, like writing and editing. I interned there last summer so I have a sense of what to expect. I really enjoyed being at work every day and there are so many potential mentors that I already admire. I did not realize how much of a gift that was until recently, when participating in the RISE program through the Women's Center. One of the professors said that at her first job there was no one to look up to. I thought about how there are so many people that I worked with at America that I look up to and admire, both as people and as writers. I'm also excited to be near Central Park and go in there on the weekends and work on my writing, as well as hopefully getting involved with the creative writing scene in New York.
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
Don't sweat rejection too much because you are bound to get rejected, and that's okay. There is so much to do on this campus that if you put yourself out there you will never be bored. Also, seek out mentors. It is nice to have adults in your life that you can look up to who aren't your parents to help you with your college career, because it is a time of so much change.
鈥擟hristine Balquist | University Communications | May 2018