Amadou Barry

My first two years at Carleton university were as a law major with only a minor in English. However, as I walked across the stage to pick up my diploma, it was as an English Honours Student with Concentration in Creative Writing.

Being drawn to storytelling, writing, and analysis due to high school English classes and personal interest in narrative, I’m extremely grateful to do have done it at Carleton. Its English department offers a wide range of classes that allows students to engage in critical thinking and analysis across a variety of subjects, eras, and themes as well as being given the opportunity to pursue your own interests within these fields. It was because of this that many essays, especially those written in my fourth year, were among my favourite to write. The program also gave me the opportunity to serve as an editor for Carleton’s new Sumac Literary Magazine, an experience that let me see firsthand the inner workings of the publishing industry and the process behind making a successful magazine.

Moreover, the creative writing concentration allowed me to participate in unforgettable workshops that aided me greatly in experimentation, learning from other writers, critiquing pieces, and helping me to find my voice as a writer. It also enabled me to forge connections with likeminded students, bouncing ideas back and forth to create stronger works. Without a doubt, the concentration is a must for emerging writers.

While the end of my time at Carleton was very different from the beginning, I can tell you that my experience as an English Honours major made me never look back, not even once.

To read a recently published piece by Amadou Barry, please click here.