News: Profiles

"If you have something you're interested in, listen, talk to different people, get experiences, and reach out to literally anyone."

"Be proactive about taking advantage of the university. UMass is huge, and there are so many opportunities for you if you just look at a bulletin board. The Pioneer Valley is a great place to be an English major."

"Studying English has strengthened my ability to communicate clearly and empathetically, analyze information critically, and think creatively—qualities that are valuable when working with patients and interpreting complex data."

"I have always had a passion for writing, ever since I was a kid. As I grew older it morphed into a passion for how to write well and how to teach others to write well, in any genre."

"Writing is just what I do. I've always been a reader, and at some point I thought to myself, 'I wonder if I could do this?' As it turns out, I could!"

The ability to analyze, understand, and synthesize text is important [in a job like mine]. You get this from essentially every English course you take. Good writing skills are equally important, and English courses that focus on writing (language, composition, rhetoric) equip you with the writing skills to succeed in “the real world.” 

"In terms of a career path, the best advice I can give is just to always be open. Don’t have the blinders on; you just never know where your education can take you."

Samaya Abdus-Salaam is Development Manager at PushBlack and a Law Student at Rutgers University.

Jesse Adams is an attorney.