College Writing Mentors -- Bios
The Young Writers Project is fortunate to have several dozen top students from the University of Vermont, Saint Michael's College and Middlebury College who are providing feedback on student submissions to YWP's newspaper series.
Many of these college students are in honors programs and/or serve as writing tutors at their schools. They are giving feedback on entries to the YWP Newspaper Series. They will tell you what they liked about your piece and what one thing you could do to improve it. Here are a few of the mentors:
NATALIA PARACHINI, University of Vermont
Writing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. In elementary school, my first grade teacher challenged our class to produce a piece of writing to read aloud at our annual "Can Write" assembly. My first time around, my piece was not chosen, and I was absolutely devastated. I vowed to write another piece for the spring assembly that would be so good my teacher would not be able to say no. I remember using my writing to try and spark change by writing to our neighborhood garbage company after I witnessed them throwing all of our recycling in with the regular trash. I drafted letters to send to Ranger Rick magazine about the opossum I saw in our backyard. Essentially I wrote about everything I could, and I still do. In my last year of college as an English major I have begun to explore options of teaching on a high school level after I graduate. As a native New Yorker and a UVM student, I am ready to see what the rest of the country has to offer and will be moving to Missoula, Montana, in September.
KATHRYN E. MACIEJOWSKI, University of Vermont
When I was in 1st grade, my autobiography in the back of my various cardboard bound publications said that I loved to read and write and that my favorite food was cranberry sauce. Fifteen years later, it is still pretty accurate. On top of that, I love to snowboard as much as possible in the winter and I spend my summers working at one of my favorite places in the world: Camp Downer in Sharon, VT.
EMILY ELENI JAMES, University of Vermont
I am graduating from the University of Vermont this fall and will then attend the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College. For a long time I thought I wanted to become a journalist and served as a summer intern at Seven Days Newspaper, but recently my interest has turned to movies. In the future I’d love to work on screenplays or in film criticism. If any of you ever want to talk movies, I’m your go-to-girl. I look forward to reading your work, and if you have an interest in writing scenes or full plays, give me a heads up—I’d especially love to read them.
AMANDA ANDERSON, Stonehill College, native of Hinesburg
When I was younger, my parents had to forbid books at the dinner table because I would spend the whole meal reading instead of talking to my family. I was never without a good book, or a pen and paper. My love of reading and writing is just as strong today, which is why I'm so excited to be a part of the Young Writers Project. I'm a native Vermonter, but currently live in Massachusetts while I finish my senior year at Stonehill College. I study International Relations, Sociology, and Foreign Languages, and hope to continue my studies at graduate school next year. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, live music, tennis, and spending time with my friends.
REBECCA BABICH, University of Vermont
I am a senior undergraduate student, where I am majoring in Business Administration, and minoring in Animal Science. I also am a tutor at the University's Writing Center, which is my favorite extracurricular activity. I love animals and have had several jobs during my college experience working with animals. Additionally, I love to read, listen to music, shop and eat chocolate.
ELIZABETH BATES, Middlebury College
A comfy chair, a cup of hot chocolate and a good book: the perfect combination. I have always loved to read; you’d be hard-pressed to find me without a long list of books I need to tackle next. I am a sophomore French Major at Middlebury and am originally from Connecticut. I love to learn languages (I’m currently taking French and Italian), but I’m also a music fanatic. I sing in two choirs here at Middlebury and am always looking for new opportunities to sing. This year I started as a Peer Writing Tutor on campus, and I’m so excited to have this new opportunity to see what amazing pieces other students are writing!
SARAH McGOWEN FRANCO, Middlebury College
I have loved to write ever since second grade. One of my earliest stories was about an alien named Oken who was from the planet of Fishy-Icky-Oka. Now, I am a senior at Middlebury College. My major is in Religion and my minor is in Hebrew. I am a writing tutor at the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research. My current writing project is my Senior Thesis on Jewish environmental ethics. I have come a long way since second grade, yes? Originally from the Lakes Region of Maine, I have decided to make my permanent home in beautiful Middlebury. Someday, I hope to be an elementary school teacher or a social worker. I enjoy lindy hopping, hiking, photographing and reading -- with my cats Zoe and Siegfried curled up on my lap. I dislike running, snakes, and asparagus.
JESSIE GURD,Middlebury College
I'm a student at Middlebury College majoring in English Literature. I work as a Peer Writing Tutor at the College, so I get to spend the greater part of my day playing with words. My education has retroactively formed my roots; creative nonfiction and expository or analytical pieces are likely my favorites to produce. I also dabble in original comedic and dramatic scripts for radio, if only because I like to have a hand in what I perform on the air. Outside of writing and literature, I spend a lot of time sketching and missing my horse.
CAROLINE HOWE, St. Michael's College
I'm a junior biology major (global studies minor). I love playing field hockey, running, cooking, writing, and hanging around with my friends. I hate worms, finding hair in my food, and wasting paper. I'm spending next semester in South Africa working with the Public Health Department on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, and I think after college I want to spend some time working in the public health field.
NATHAN JANDL, graduate school candidate.
I fell in love with writing in the fourth grade. I remember the specific moment because my class was given an assignment to write anything we wanted, in any form, and I decided that a poem was the shortest possible option. So I wrote a poem about the lottery, with which I was fascinated at the time (OK, I just wanted some free cash), and I haven't stopped writing since. I also enjoy photography, soccer, fishing and cooking. I am a recent graduate of Middlebury College and I live in Winooski. I look forward to reading your work!
ERIN McCORMICK, Middlebury College
My first memory of creative writing recalls a 7-year-old version of me, laying on the floor in my bedroom, keying away on an old typewriter, writing a short story called "Old Man Fender," a copy of which is still in my possession 15 years later. Since then, I've spent much of my life writing, from journalism in high school to art analysis in college. I'm currently a senior History of Art major at Middlebury College, with minors in Italian and Psychology. I also work as a Peer Writing Tutor for the Center of Learning Resources and record audio-books for the American Disabilities Act Office on campus. Aside from writing and reading, I enjoy cooking, kayaking, and traveling. Right now, I'm trying my hand at writing creatively in Italian, which is quite a rewarding challenge!
DANIELLE WALSH, University of Vermont
Hey all! I'm Danielle, Dani for short. I'm a Biology and English double major at UVM and I'm currently a Junior. I'm a tutor at the UVM Writing Center and I also do a little tutoring in biology and I grade math papers. When not working or studying I enjoy horseback riding and ballroom dancing. Of course, I'm always up for a good book as well. In working with the Young Writer's Project I hope to instill my love of writing in others and to provide the feedback that I wish I had had as a young writer.
JULZ WHELAN, Middlebury College
I am a senior English major with an emphasis in Creative Writing. I have always loved reading and writing, and have a special interest in historical fiction, which began at the age of twelve when I first read Avi's "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle." I have dabbled in nonfiction, which I enjoy, and I have failed miserably at poetry, which I reluctantly admire, but I am continually drawn back to the pursuit of prose. My time at Middlebury seems to be divided between classes, tutoring students, and working on my thesis, a novel in stories. Unfortunately, my time is not equally divided, and my poor thesis refuses to give me a break and write itself. I love reading others' work, and find it personally inspiring. I believe the very best kind of writing springs out of reciprocal endeavor, and I look forward to reading as much of the Young Writers' works as possible. In the meantime, I really should get back to my own writing.
(More mentors are signing up; we'll get their bios up as soon as we get them.)
