As an English major my writing is often personal, professional, or both.

There are many different standards that academic writing may be held to but I believe that authenticity is the most important in writing.

The majority of my classes in English have involved creating analytical essays, which isn't always the most exciting thing in the world!

But I have found that writing that is not true to my beliefs or identity lacks conviction and isn't reflective of the best work that I can do. There's always a way to make assignments personal and unique!

As an Honors student and associate, I've seen a lot of Honors papers, my favorite ones to read have been papers and assignments that students are clearly interested in or passionate about.

Honors is a sequence of courses that gives students a broad range of literature to consider, overall my time in Honors has taught me not to be afraid of building on knowledge and passions from other courses.

I've always been an artistic student but coming to college, I never gave myself time to take elective courses that allowed me to explore my passion for art.

Now that I've found ways to incorporate my passions for art and design into my other courses, my work is all the more unique and easier for me to engage with!

Although I have three minors, they all address topics relevant to Sociology: The study of social theories and structures.

Exploring these topics through various lenses-legal, gender based, and inquisitive perspectives-has allowed me to build a strong knowledge base within the subject.

The Honors Thesis is the project that culminates the Honors Curriculum. While the Honors Thesis may replace a graduating students capstone project, I've found that the Honors Thesis seems to me a more daunting task.

My Honors Thesis will cover (in fancy terms) the topic of Professional and Technical Communication elements in the Maine Department of Public Safety's annual "Crime in Maine" report. This means that I will be looking at how these documents are structured, what information they are conveying, why these reports are effective or ineffective, and what they can do to be more accessible.

In this section you will also find a draft of my Honors Reading List. The Honors Reading List exemplifies some of the literature and media that I see as being most important in my academic career. In this draft you will find songs, poems, books, reports, and other pieces of media that have helped me develop as both a student and a person.

Content Warning: Because of the personal and unfiltered nature of the drafts in this section, please keep in mind that my thesis focuses on crime, particularly violent crime, in Maine. If any person(s) have been experienced violent crime victimization or are triggered by the content in this section, I encourage you to reach out to campus resources such as: The Counseling Center, Title IX Student Services, University of Maine Police Department.