Monthly Archives: January 2026

student blogs

Taking Shape

Hi all! I hope everyone’s been staying safe and warm with the snow. Just a few days before the storm hit, my family and I flew down to Florida. The timing was perfect for a family trip to celebrate my niece’s 10th birthday. We visited the theme parks: Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Universal’s Epic Universe (see photos below!). The weather has been surprisingly nice. It’s mostly been cooler, which has been a nice change. Overall, it’s been a fun mix of family time, theme parks, and a much-needed break from winter. 

Reflecting on our class last week, I wanted to share how valuable the individual one-on-one meetings were. It really helped clarify not only where to start, but more importantly, where to pick back up. I still have some loose ends in my piece, and as I discussed with Dr. Zamora, I’ve been writing this thesis in fragments. I’m continuing to work on how to bring everything together in a way that feels smooth and cohesive. Another area I’m revisiting is the research component and making sure it’s meaningfully integrated into the narrative. I left the meeting with a lot of clarity around what I need to start working on right away. I believe focusing on these things will really help me start building and assist in putting together the final piece. Please see the to-do timeline/outline I put together below.

Be well, all. See you next week in class. 

  • Compile and review all materials 
    • Gather all existing work related to the project, including the Digital Literature Project, introduction, drafted scenes and fragments, and notes or in-class writings. Review these materials to identify gaps, overlaps, and areas needing revision or expansion.
  • Family Consultation and Ethical Considerations
    • Speak with family and friends to address pseudonyms and anonymization. Work through challenges related to representing shared experiences respectfully and integrating research in a way that supports, rather than overwhelm, the personal narrative.
  • Structure: A three-part memoir
    • Part I: Autoethnography
      • Introduce early memories with my sister and form our relationship and family dynamics.
    • Part II: The Accident
      • Recount the event and its immediate emotional and physical impact from my perspective as a sister and witness.
      • Incorporate analysis of interview transcripts as a method. 
    • Part III: Healing and Trauma
      • Explore the aftermath, focusing on healing, coping, and the long-term impact of trauma on our family as a collective experience.

student blogs

The Road Ahead…

Hi everyone! It’s hard to believe this is my final semester and my last class in the M.A. program. In my last blog post for Part 1 of the thesis course, I shared that I had originally planned to take this class in spring 2025 and graduate then. However, life had other plans—and that’s okay. I took a semester off and returned in summer 2025 for the writers’ retreat, which turned out to be a wonderful, gentle way to ease back into the rhythm of writing. It’s also been great to reconnect with familiar faces from the retreat and last semester’s classes; having that continuity of support really makes a difference.

I feel a renewed sense of purpose, eagerness, and hope as I work toward tying up the remaining pieces of my thesis. The writing process can still be anxiety-inducing, but I’m learning to move forward with patience and trust in myself.

The last piece I submitted was my thesis proposal for the memoir I’m writing in dedication to my sister and her tragic accident. There’s still so much to write, shape, and map out. Over the next few months, I plan to dedicate focused time to drafting the remaining sections while regularly stepping back to refine the overall structure. My goal is not just to add content, but to shape the narrative so each part connects meaningfully and contributes to the story I want to tell. It’s a big task, but having a roadway makes it feel manageable, and I’m ready to tackle it step by step.

There’s still a lot to accomplish, but with clear deadlines and intentional time management, I’m confident I can make steady progress. I’m excited for the challenges ahead and eager to see how this memoir develops over the coming months.

So happy to be here with you all!