When I first came to UNH Manchester, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I had just graduated from high school and didn’t know what college would be like, or even what subjects interested me. Since UNH Manchester is a commuter school, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to find my place here on campus.
Within the first few weeks of school, I realized that UNH Manchester would be a perfect fit. Because of the small class sizes, I had the opportunity to talk with many of my classmates. We started study groups together and helped each other prepare for tests. Along with getting to know the other students, I also got to know all of my professors. With the average class size being between 15-20 people, the professors had a chance to talk to every student.
One of the first classes I took here at UNH Manchester was Intro to Literary Analysis (ENGL 419). It was my first time taking a literature course in college, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Soon I discovered that studying literature was something that truly interested me. Professor Susan Walsh introduced the class to many different kinds of writing. From fiction to poetry, the class analyzed literature in a way I had never done in the past. We wrote papers expressing our ideas and discussed literary works from various perspectives. In fact, this class was one of the main reasons why I chose to major in English.
Around this time, one of my professors recommended that I apply to become a writing tutor in the Center for Academic Enrichment (CAE). Having been to the CAE a few times myself, I thought this would be a chance to get involved on campus and help other students. I figured it would also help me gain experience as a writer. I applied for the position and became a peer tutor that spring.
As a tutor, I’ve made countless memories. From working with the summer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program to running study groups, I’ve worked with many different people. Becoming a tutor has allowed me to meet other students here on campus and learn about subjects that I might not have been familiar with otherwise. When students come in to the CAE with papers about a variety of different subject matters, it’s rewarding to hear them talk about topics that interest them.
Over the past few years, I’ve also learned a lot about myself as a person. Working on campus has actually helped me become more outgoing. I’ve learned how to better articulate my thoughts and feel far more confident in what I say. I’ve even had the opportunity to speak in front of my class-links and give presentations at conferences about my experiences.
This spring, I’ll be graduating from UNH Manchester with a degree in English. After studying here for the past four years, I’ve gained countless experience and skills. Getting involved was one of the best decisions I made as a student.
Every student coming to UNH Manchester has a chance not only to learn and get an education, but also to become part of the community. When I first came to UNH Manchester, I never thought I’d be able to speak in front of groups or even become a tutor. Each experience I’ve had, both in class and on campus, has helped prepare me for the future.
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Rachel Meehan is an English major at UNH Manchester and a graduate of Londonderry High School.
