Avery Oldford

I currently work for the Privy Council Office of Canada as an Executive Correspondence Officer, known more colloquially in my office as a “writer.” In a very literal way, I would have never been able to get this job without my English degree, as it is a requirement for the position, but it has also helped me advance in my career in many ways beyond that. In my last year of university, I took a professional-writing course that prepared me for exactly the kind of writing that I would need for this job. The critical-research skills that I developed throughout my degree serve me very well as research is a large part of my day-to-day responsibilities. Overall, I find myself using the skills that I developed throughout my four years at Carleton every day at work, and I believe that they will help me advance in my career over time.

How has your Carleton English degree informed your professional and/or creative path?

Professionally, I have taken my English degree and applied it directly to my job as a writer for the Government of Canada. The critical research and practical knowledge that I learned during my degree helps me every single day. Creatively, my English degree only served to further inspire and solidify my love of literature and the written word. I have had poems published in various magazines, one of them being In/Words! I have also created a bookstagram account where I review and take pictures of the books that I am reading. Though this is a side project that is just for my own entertainment, it brings me so much joy.

Why Carleton? What specific experiences or opportunities did you benefit from while studying English at Carleton?

I knew upon visiting Carleton for the first time that it was where I wanted to be. I could imagine myself being inspired and writing there, and I was right! It would be impossible to count the number of hours that I spent in MacOdrum library working on various projects and taking breaks to stare out the window at the water. The thing that stands out to me the most about the Carleton English program are the professors. I had many English professors that stood out to me as people who were extremely dedicated to their work and were excited and passionate about the subjects that they taught.