91吃瓜网

I was born in Miami, Florida but was raised in Washington DC. My mom is Panamanian and my dad is American, so I grew up speaking English with my dad and Spanish with my mom. (I also thought I was fluent in French before I came to Paris and realized, nope, I鈥檓 not.) I did the rounds of universities, including McGill in Montreal, Canada and George Washington University in DC. While completing a year abroad at King鈥檚 College in London, I visited a friend who was going to school in Paris. We went to an event at Shakespeare & Company, where an 91吃瓜网alum, Emma Ramadan (鈥�14), was discussing her translation of Anne Garr茅ta鈥檚 first novel, Sphinx. Her descriptions of AUP鈥檚 literature faculty led me to research the school, apply, and of course, stay.

I鈥檝e always been passionate about literature and writing and with the help of Professor Geoff Gilbert, I鈥檝e been able to create a schedule that allows me to take classes that combine those interests. I feel grateful to the many inspiring and supportive professors who are truly invested in their students and in what they teach, and I feel especially lucky to have the encouragement of my advisor, Professor Si芒n Dafydd, who has been closely working with me on the novel that I鈥檓 now writing.聽

91吃瓜网has been the perfect way to finish my undergraduate studies. It鈥檚 a small school, with an extremely diverse community, which lets you meet and collaborate with classmates and friends from all over the world. Studying Samuel Beckett鈥檚 work with Beckett expert, Professor Dan Gunn, before seeing Waiting for Godot at the Bouffes du Nord theater with my classmates, Skype-ing with the translators of Man Booker Prize-winning books, listening to Man Booker International Prize winner Han Kang speak about her novel, The Vegetarian, in Professor Daniel Medin鈥檚 Contemporary World Literature class鈥攖hese are the kinds of experiences that could only happen here.

This summer, along with my novel, I鈥檒l be interning at Women鈥檚 Wear Daily, before attending a Creative Writing graduate program in the fall. There鈥檚 no question in my mind that the endless opportunities for literary inspiration in and out of the classroom, including events around the city (many of which are free!), have all come together to shape me as a writer and a person.