Quick Facts

Favorite word?

Tenacious

Favorite music to write to?

Nat King Cole

What’s a word you always misspell?

LinkedIn!

 

Imani Briscoe
Program Specialist for Inclusion and Diversity Experiential Programming

___________________________________________________________________________________

SJU Writes: What kind of writing do you find difficult?

IB: Cover letters. It’s hard to recall all the things you’ve done in a particular role or something. I think everyone to some extent will sell themselves short. And when you have to write a cover letter, you have to write about why you deserve the job and the different experiences that make you the perfect candidate without sounding obnoxious and full of yourself.

SJU Writes: Do you think being a woman, you feel that even more?

IB: I feel like I’m so conscious of the fact that I might be dimming myself, so I try to not do it. Even in the words that I use in emails, if I say something like ‘I think,’ I’ll take the word ‘think’ out and just make it a statement if it fits in that situation. I’m trying to be more conscious of that, like ‘Why are you being timid? Just say what you’re going to say.’

SJU Writes: Who’s the best or most influential writing teacher you’ve ever had?

IB: My mother. She’s the best writer ever. She’s very eloquent, and I only hope to be that good. If I ever really need someone to give me an amazing phrase or something that I’m trying to say or express, she is the one person I call.

SJU Writes: Do you seek advice as you write?

IB: Not as I write. I’ll complete the whole thing and then I’ll either ask my mom or my best friend who was an English major here at St Joe’s.

SJU Writes: Do you enjoy writing?

IB: I do. And when I’m in the zone to write, I’m in the zone. Like you can’t tell me anything. I know that writing to some extent is meant for me, and it has some bigger part to play in the future in my life. But when I’m not in the mood to write, it feels like I don’t know what I’m doing and I’m just spinning my wheels. But when I’m in the mood, I’m really in the mood.

—Erin Fenzel ’22