Before I considered my self a "writer," projects and essays were the only forms of writing I knew. Sure, I obviously knew about books and short stories, but those were reserved for the elite. And even if they hadn't been reserved for the elite, I wanted no part in writing them. I wanted no part in writing projects or essays either (especially not essays). Essays felt forced and dull. Why do I have to write another stupid essay comparing this book to that book, I so often mused. And don't get me started on research papers. 

But in college, I learned of a different essay. This essay had meaning, purpose, and energy. Surprisingly, it was the same essay; the way of writing the essay had not changed. Rather, what did change was the purpose of such essays. No longer was I restrained to irrelevant topics; in college, I could often choose what I wanted to write about. And, typically, I (whether intentionally or not intentionally) wrote about people. I found a purpose in trying to understand the people around me. Projects and essays (even those requiring research) became my comfort zone in writing. I had no trouble arriving at nuanced conclusions when allowed to choose what I wanted to write about. And I could typically merge my interest in science with whatever I was writing about and would, thus, be compelled to undergo in-depth research (I loved learning about science). In a way, projects and essays became fun.

Linked below are three projects or essays that I have completed during my time at the University of Michigan. "The Flirtatiously Sadistic Horror Film" was written during my freshmen year for an English course. "The Language Forgotten" was written and produced (one component is an essay, and the other is a podcast) during the gateway course of the Minor in Writing. "Adventure Calls" was created for the capstone course of the Minor in Writing; it was the last writing project that I completed during college.