Jasmine Harrison ’27
I was first drawn to the English major because of the joy I get from reading, writing and discussing stories in the classroom setting. But as I’ve progressed with the major and interacted with professors and peers in the English Department, I’ve also learned its broad applicability in the workplace. I like that I can explore a wide range of interests—from legal, to publishing, to journalism, to marketing—all while pursuing my primary interest in literature.
The Pomona College English Department offers so many fun and cool courses. I find that every semester I struggle to finalize my schedule because there are so many classes I want to take! From the most niche courses that follow a single author or literary topic, to the most broad courses that cover full eras of literary tradition or even the act of reading itself, I never fail to find something interesting to enroll in. My favorite course so far has been African American Poetics with Professor Amaud Jamaul Johnson. It was a perfect blend of literary criticism and creative writing, of reading the existing poetic tradition and expanding it with my own work. It left me feeling personally and academically fulfilled.
Last summer, I did two research projects related to my major. First, I worked with Professor Sarah Raff of the English Department as a research assistant for her upcoming book project. Our exploration of guardianship in 18th century British novels related fiction literature to legal studies and history, taking a multidisciplinary approach which is so characteristic of the liberal arts approach. Secondly, I traveled to Guam to study the Chamorro poetic tradition. This personal project deepened my appreciation for my culture and the importance of language in indigenous literature, sparking an interest that I intend to pursue in further research.
To my friends, I always recommend that they take an English class, even if they’re a STEM major! The study of literature is so interdisciplinary and broadly applicable, and also fun!