future professor, ready for challenges

Jesse Paul is a senior English major from Pollock.*

I am an only child

I was a member of PREP staff 2007, a FRYS peer leader in 2007, and I am also a member of the English Studies Society and Sigma Tau Delta. I work as a server and hostess at Olive Garden.

After graduating in May,* I will pursue my Masters, and eventually my Ph.D., in English. I plan to become an English professor at a university because I absolutely love to read and research and I want to share this passion with others. I chose to teach on the college level because I love the age I am now and I have greatly enjoyed working with my peers, either in a leadership role or in group projects.

I love to look out over the campus from the 7th floor of the library. It's exhilarating to be so high up, watching my fellow students walk to class on the beautiful campus.

One of my favorite professors is Dr. LaRue Sloan, English. I half-jokingly say I want her job because she is the resident Shakespeare expert which I hope to someday be. She has also taught me various approaches to literary criticism and helped me to discover that I am interested in examining gender roles, particularly feminist studies. She has also helped me to become more involved in the English department, which has opened many doors for me. I admire her greatly and hope I can be to my students one day what she has been to me.

My favorite memory was serving on PREP staff. I had the best summer in 2007 with my fellow PREP staffers. I made 18 friends and was able to have the time of my life with them. It was a lot of hard work, but hearing the students laugh at us making fools of ourselves at the variety show and knowing that I am remembered by the incoming freshmen made it worth the effort.

I have become a driven, goal-oriented, and independent individual. The professors here make me want to do my absolute best for them, and my peers hold me to high standards. My career path has been determined here, as well as interests I never knew I had. I am a more out-going, friendly person as well, thanks to being on PREP staff and working various recruiting events for both the English and French departments. I feel I am now a well-rounded individual, ready to take on any challenge presented to me due, in large part, to the experiences I've had at ULM.

*Jesse Paul graduated in May, magna cum laude