The Pulse

Isabelle Coughlin came to Emmanuel knowing she wanted to write. It was something new and she was a bit nervous, but she quickly found her way.
“Professors like Dr. Pope really helped me feel more confident in my writing and gave me the tools to be better at it,” said Coughlin. “She gives great prompts and that helps us work through our writing process.”
Coughlin’s essay “Cancer: Then and Now,” was recently published in The Manifest Station. Looking ahead, she’s weighing freelance writing or something in communications, confident she’s prepared for either track.
“I’ve learned so much from my professors, who are always willing to help out and talk,” she said. “I feel like I have the skills to succeed, going into my future career.”

Ava Cunningham chose the Writing, Editing & Publishing major to sharpen her writing skills, but found its also made her a better communicator.
“I’ve really developed to become a more authentic writer,” she said. “I’m more comfortable talking about myself and writing about my experiences. One of the greatest benefits of writing is that it’s a way for people to connect and learn about each other.”
Cunningham’s story “Wishbone” was published in Talk Vomit magazine. She said it was a great experience that left her wanting more.
“It almost didn’t register until I had the physical magazine and could flip through it,” she said. “It made me feel confident as a writer.”
Post-graduation, Cunningham is interested in professional writing.

Emma Grenier has always enjoyed writing, but that interest went in a surprising new direction after taking Dr. Pope’s Advanced Prose Writing course.
“I’ve always been a good writer, but it was really the first time I was writing about myself and what I’m interested in,” she said. “My interest in writing has grown.”
Grenier’s essay “Tanking the Growth Chart” was recently published in The Journal of Expressive Writing. She said that was a wonderful surprise, which grew out of inspiring classroom instruction from Dr. Pope.
“We did simple but very helpful exercises before each piece, and that was the most helpful thing,” said Grenier.
Looking ahead, Grenier is considering political communications, professional writing, or editing as career tracks.

An interest in publishing brought Abigail Di Carlo to Emmanuel. She discovered a love of writing in the classroom with Dr. Mary Elizabeth Pope.
“I think her sharing some of her life experiences in class helped me open up with my own writing,” said Di Carlo. “I felt inspired by what she’s accomplished, and it helped me see what I wanted to do as well.”
Di Carolo’s essay “Walking Away” was published in Waywords Literary Magazine. She is now working toward a Master of Library Science.
“Writing, Editing, & Publishing helped me learn how to write both creatively and professionally,” she said. “It showed me the different types of writing literary magazines look for and how to write for each one. That really prepared me for writing in my graduate studies.”