Jaclyn Margaret Legge

After completing my BA in English at Carleton, I took a year off to focus on my own writing. However, it became obvious to me that I had more to learn as a student and more to contribute as an academic, so I came back to Carleton for my MA. As a graduate student in the Department of English Language and Literature, I am pursuing my research interests in erotic-romance fiction as a site that reveals some of the most contentious discourses in literary culture: book censorship, the division between fiction and reality, and how we relate to (and don’t relate to) the art we consume.

My essay, “Neil Gaiman and the Rare Phenomenon of Creative Autonomy for Fiction Writers,” was published in the interdisciplinary journal To Be Decided*.

My short story “Yarn” was published in the first issue of SUMAC, Carleton’s student-run literary magazine.

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

The Co-op program allowed me to explore a variety of career paths that were available to me with my degree. Before Co-op, I couldn’t even imagine what the professional world might be like, and getting exposure to professional work firsthand provided me with clarity, confidence, and direction I would not have had otherwise.

Furthermore, I cannot understate how much I have been shaped and nurtured by this English department. I produced academic and creative work that I am deeply proud of because I learned how to find meaning in everything I do. This degree in literature has encouraged me to think deeply about the world, about people, about myself, and what kind of life I want to live on this planet. I have found lifelong mentors and friends who encourage me every day to be thoughtful, purposeful, and authentic in everything I do.

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

As a high-school student who was passionate about reading and writing, it seemed obvious to me that Carleton’s English program was the place for me to be. This is because of the Concentration in Creative Writing, which allowed me to prioritize reading and writing creatively throughout the year. It was in the writing workshops that I wrote some of my best work and made some of my closest friends to this day.

I was fortunate to get to give back to the department that did so much for me. I was a research assistant, helping a professor who helped me more than I can ever say. For a time, I was the departmental blogger for the English Department. I even got to produce a series of videos to show prospective students all the wonderful opportunities this department has to offer.

To my mind, my education has had nothing to do with an institution and everything to do with people. Good learning is about good teachers, and the professors in this English department—with their compassion and their enthusiasm—are the beating heart of this university.