Ryan Halligan is our next volunteer for the Parting Words questionnaire.
Ryan Halligan
Do you have any parting words or shout-outs to share with current students and faculty?
Thanks to the director, faculty, and administrative staff of the Writing Studies program—all of them top notch. Thank you as well to my classmates who dedicated thoughtful responses during workshops and raised the bar by sharing their fantastic writing.
A special thank you to Father Brennan for his guidance and valuable input as my thesis advisor.
Which Writing Studies course or course reading was most interesting or useful to you? Why?
Creative Nonfiction with Dr. Spinner and Poetry with Professor Stanford. Both were workshops, and both invaluable. The genres share a real kinship: writing as a journey to discovery.
How do you plan to use your Master’s Degree in your career?
I plan to teach as an adjunct for a part-time second job. Coursework like The Writing Teacher Writing with Dr. Green has motivated me to consider teaching again. Also, I’m going to keep up my practice of writing and submit, submit, submit.
Do you have any tips for future students about choosing classes, juggling the workload, or writing a thesis?
If you work full time, go easy on yourself and maybe take one or two classes at a time. Working inside of your available time and space allows for getting the most out of the course. The program’s catalogue offers a good range, so choose the classes that suit your needs/tastes/career goals. Don’t forget to try something new, as well.