Moving forward while looking back - A moment of reflection before graduation

by Barbara Olivis

            As the school year is coming to a close, I would like to reflect on some of the notable moments that have made my academic career worth having. The last three years have been filled with lots of learning through trial and error. I came into Tennessee State as a scared, out-of-state student that had no real plan of action. And I’m leaving in the spring, admittedly still lacking a solid plan of action, but with an sense of confidence that I can handle whatever life throws at me.

            Freshman English classes were unforgettable experiences. It was the first time that I learned words like "unsubstainability" and how to make an argument in my writing that advocates for environmental stability. It was a different experience to me because it opened my eyes to the fact that without the earth we live on we have nothing, but so many of us have yet to take environmental abuses seriously. It was the first time that I heard someone advocate for the thing that matters most and the realization of this was exhilarating. It was a lesson that I needed to learn, and I am grateful that I did.

            The literature classes that I have taken were undoubtedly my favorite part of my academic experience. I feel like being drowned in reading assignments is what builds character in an English major. I was exposed to so many different authors such as James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Charles Chestnutt, Alice Walker and many more. The essays that accompanied the readings taught me how to look beyond the words and find meaning and now that is something that I find useful within my day to day life. One of my favorite literature classes was African literature because I found the writing to be culturally enriching and to be filled with meaningful themes.

            The writing classes that I have taken have been extremely helpful even beyond my academic career. I now know how to look beyond what I am trying to achieve creatively, and to be mindful of audience in my Writing for Publication Class. In my Critical Thinking class I learned how to analyze writing and make it fit different theories. This class was probably the most challenging class in my academic career but the knowledge I gained was unforgettable.

            The last class that I want to mention is Technical Report Writing. In that class I was taught so many techniques that could help me with my career. Learning how to write resumes, cover letters, make a Linkedin, and how to correspond with employers through emails has prepared me for life beyond TSU.

            There have been so many classes that have touched me as a person, and have changed me into a person that expects more from myself and from the people around me. The professors and students at TSU have made a permanent impact upon my life and I truly feel like this is the place that I have learned the most about myself.

           

What's new with SKETCHES, LLP's Online Literary Journal

 by Barbara Olivis

          LLP’s online creative writing journal SKETCHES is making a come back this year. The journal has been around on and off since 2002, but the new aim is to put out one edition a year. As of now, SKETCHES hopes to be more routine in accepting submissions in the fall and to publish the journals in the spring. The submission period for this semester closed on March 15th, but SKETCHES will be looking for more submissions in next fall, so make sure to be on the look out. They will be accepting submissions only once a year!

Dr. Elaine Phillips

            The SKETCHES journal is a non-theme based creative writing journal that features poetry, photos, and other visual art and short stories. They also accept videos and audios of spoken word. This means that you are unlimited in submitting the work that you would like to share with other creative minds. 

          “I think what we are looking for is just good quality work, whether it is in poetry, fiction or artwork” Dr. Elaine A. Phillips says. “Right now it is open to primarily students. We want to showcase students, but we also have work from TSU faculty, staff and alums coming in.”

            The goal of SKETCHES is to showcase art. “It’s to get students, as well as the TSU community, to know that people are writing and producing in terms of art work and to showcase it," Phillips says. "Ideally, not just for the TSU community, but eventually for the larger Nashville, or even regional community.” 

          SKETCHES has big plans for the future and they will need the help of the students to accomplish their goals. Share your work and inspire others!

View past editions of SKETCHES by clicking here: SKETCHES

What’ Going on in LLP— Foreign Language Edition

by Barbara Olivis

            If you are interested in getting a language minor, flyers are coming soon. The flyers will contain information on how to successfully get a minor in French or Spanish. There will soon be an accelerated program that will allow for language minor completion within two short years. Even if you are not interested in minoring in language, and you just want to explore another language for fun, there are options for you as well.

A photo of my French class at a local
French restaurant last semester

             The language department has several different events that are coming soon that you should look out for. The Spanish and the French classes will soon be doing international movie days. International movie days will feature a novel that is in French or in Spanish— but don’t panic, even if you still aren’t fluent in the language that you are practicing, there will still be captions on the screen to help you out. Madame Roxane Pajoul gave some insight on what the French international movies are going to be based around. “I am trying to show films that are about race in France. I really want to start a discussion because in the fall I am going to teach a class entitled “Race in France.”

            The Spanish Table Talk is a good time to practice your Spanish with other students that are trying to master Spanish. The event takes place every Tuesday from 2:30-3:30pm in room 113 of the Humanities building. Unfortunately, because of the fact that there is only one French professor French Table Talk is not possible. Though Madame Pajoul says she sees it in the French program’s future.

           Acquiring a foreign language is a very beneficial , regardless of whether you plan to minor in it or not. “I have been working on French off and on for 15 years now," French student Brandi Hood says. "I think it is very important to broaden your horizons and learn more about cultures, and language is an easy way do that.”