Mary Jane Woram '24
BA English Honors
Minor in Creative Writing

On her major:
Writing has always been something I've been passionate about, whether it be through creative avenues or more academically inclined pieces. However, when choosing between the styles of writing I wanted to focus on, I could not pick between the two, hence the major in English and minor in writing. Engaging in both writing styles and expanding my skill set has been an absolute pleasure. I have learned various techniques regarding professional essay writing and have delved into multiple creative writing mediums such as novels, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, and so on. It has made for an incredibly versatile and applicable writing skill set, and I look forward to putting it into my future endeavors.

Favorite class:
One of my favorite classes would be my single-author course that focused on the poet and novelist Ocean Vuong. It was one of the first English courses I had taken that studied beyond old British literature or American literature authors and where I felt a true passion for the written word—having such a modern and fresh voice writing pieces on his experiences growing up as a queer refugee was enlightening, especially regarding the style and aesthetic within his prose, which varied from traditional applications of writing. It was an incredibly engaging course where I had felt increasingly more inspired by each piece we had read by him.

Interests and accomplishments:
Some of my interests include creative writing, reading, drawing, and video games! Some of my accomplishments include being accepted into the English Honors program at Stony Brook and coming up on the completion of my Honors thesis. I also had the pleasure of presenting my thesis at SBU's GradCon, where panelists from all over came to present their work and research. Lastly, I have written several original creative works, one of my proudest being the beginning of my original screenplay.

Post-graduation plans:
I hope to eventually return to the academic world to pursue higher education, either for my PhD in English or an MFA in creative writing!

Advice for potential Seawolves?
Don't feel afraid to connect. Talk to those peers you think are so cool, check out the club you have an interest in, and visit your teacher's office hours if you have questions. These connections you will foster at college are one of the most enriching and important aspects of your experience. Don't forget to allow yourself to have those social pleasures!

Anything you would like share?
I just wanted to thank my amazing professors for their dedication to their student's education and for providing a wonderfully enlightening experience. I would especially like to thank my thesis advisor, Professor Timothy August, for providing his continued support in my academic career and thesis writing!