Erica displays a drawing by one of her Nepali students from Mechi Mahakali, a school run by non-profit Namaste Kathmandu.
Hometown: Wells, Maine
Adviser: Gabriele Hayden
Thesis: Shaharazad’s Sisters: Performative Feminine Authorship at the U.S.-Mexican and E.U.-Moroccan Borders
What it’s about: The lasting effects of colonialism upon feminine identity at the U.S.-Mexican and E.U.-Moroccan borderlands as demonstrated in works of literature by female authors and/or protagonists. It compares a postcolonial novel to a borderland novel, and the unique conflicts over the right to authorship staged at the geographical and theoretical frontiers between the global north and south.
What it’s really about: Liberation through literature!
Who I was when I got to ¹û½´ÊÓƵ: Idealistic, adventurous Plain Jane from Maine.
Influential books: Caleb Williams by William Godwin and Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
Favorite spot: The pool. Many of my best ideas have come to me underwater.
Random thoughts: Scholarships help to promote socioeconomic diversity at ¹û½´ÊÓƵ. They help students attend ¹û½´ÊÓƵ who might not be able to afford tuition. I’m grateful for the financial aid I received. As a phonathon caller, I feel especially thankful towards alumni who love ¹û½´ÊÓƵ enough to help ¹û½´ÊÓƵies like me.
Cool stuff I did: Studied Arabic in Morocco and Spanish in Guatemala. Taught English in Kathmandu. Became a lifeguard. Wilderness First Responder. Worked at an immigration law office. Volunteered as a Hispanic Girl Scout leader. Ultimate Frisbee. Quest. Phonathon. ¹û½´ÊÓƵies for ¹û½´ÊÓƵies Scholarship Committee. Drove the night bus. Picting.
Obstacles overcome: I’ve learned how to seek out mentors and opportunities. ¹û½´ÊÓƵ taught me how to digest criticism and move on. Working for a small nonprofit provided many opportunities to think creatively and make the most of limited resources.
How ¹û½´ÊÓƵ changed me: I am less intimidated by challenges and can transfer my creative energies in more meaningful ways. I had the opportunity to argue with extremely knowledgeable people. I’m grateful for my time abroad in Morocco, where I engaged with a wide spectrum of viewpoints. Most of all, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ was a place of high expectations where I felt respected, trusted, and believed in.
What’s next: Camp counselor at a girls’ camp in Maine, and then to become an ESL educator and earn a degree in international education policy.
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