Sam Bean

When I started my Carleton English degree, I didn’t really know what I wanted my professional life to be or what skills I had to offer to the world. Studying at Carleton helped me prepare for a changing, uncertain world and develop my confidence as a professional and creative writer.

I know for a fact that my writing skills were a serious deciding factor in getting hired at Odyssey Theatre, and I rely on the critical analysis, planning-and-research skills that I built during my coursework at Carleton. I got into my climate-humanities research group through the relationships that I developed during my Master’s, which has led me to some of the most fulfilling academic work that I’ve ever done. Neither of these opportunities would have entered my life if I hadn’t been an English student at Carleton.

The best part about studying at Carleton was the faculty: I got to learn from some of the most intelligent, generous and thoughtful people I’ve ever met, and was blown away by how many opportunities English professors threw my way. It was with members of the English department that I developed my critical perspective, my writing voice, and the way that I see the world.

I also got so much from my peers studying English with me. It was such a joy getting to spend time with people who share my interests and passions, while consistently pushing me to dig deeper and think harder about what I care about. Carleton was the place where I developed a new confidence in my voice, built skills that helped me find meaningful work, and foster relationships that have profoundly shaped my life.