On Wednesday, November 17, University Libraries was proud to host ten undergraduate students as they read aloud their personal essays in a virtual event. The event was the fifth installment of Dr. Rita Nezami’s Personal Essay Student Reading Series, and over 350 members of the SBU community, mostly undergraduate students, joined the Zoom meeting to listen to, support, and celebrate their peers.
The ten students, listed below with the title of their essays, wrote their essays as part of their work in either a WRT 102 or WRT 303 course. They read personal essays on topics that ranged from a deep appreciation of a sunrise to the traumatic experience of a terrorist attack or the death of a beloved friend. The richness of their lived realities was expressed through essays that showcased the students’ thoughtful observations, attention to detail, and use of vivid imagery.
Listening to the students’ own words proved to be a meaningful experience for the audience, which was drawn into the students’ characterizations of experiences and memories from all over the globe. It was a time to listen to, connect with, learn from, and empower one another through the art of storytelling.
Christine Fena
