April Hirsh

jc78 — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 16:11:51 +0000

April Hirsh jc78 Thu, 08/30/2018 - 12:11

Career Field

Research Assistant

Year of Graduation

2006

Case Western Reserve University

Honestly, I can't remember why I majored in English - I came to campus as a communications major - but I'm pretty certain I stuck with it because of the professors in the English department and the thought-provoking, challenging classes that they taught. I graduated with a double major in English and sociology and found that the classes I took in the English department offered a unique opportunity to think critically about differing perspectives that have a great impact on the social issues of our time - perspectives on race, gender, and social class that were also reflected in my sociology courses. I so enjoyed assignments in my English courses where our only instruction was to write a paper; this freedom truly developed my critical thinking skills, and I believe this is the main reason I have been successful in my research career to date.

After �鶹��ý�Ŷ�, I continued my education at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, gaining my Master of Science in Social Administration with a concentration in community development. I was looking for a way to be involved in "righting" the issues we had discussed in my classes. While in this graduate program I worked in the community development field and also the policy research field, and really got to put my English degree to use researching and writing policy papers. After graduating, I joined the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development, a research center at the school I graduated from. Our organization's mission is to promote data-driven policy and decision-making. We are a founding member of the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership at the Urban Institute and are a leading organization in the world of integrated data systems and applications. I have worked on research and evaluation of mixed-income development housing projects, and on properties and foreclosure; provided technical assistance to community development organizations; and participated in various other consultative projects. (If I can continue to brag, I am probably most proud of our Neighborhood Stabilization Team work, which was recognized by the Federal Reserve: you can get a sense of it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vif2_9xIXDs).

Regardless of whether you want to change the world or make a buck, real-world employers need problem-solvers: people who are willing to dive in head-first, examine and analyze the problem, brainstorm and assess potential solutions, and carry out the best ones. No one is going to walk you through your job step-by-step. My time as an English major is where I learned these skills. I work in an academic environment and come across so many students (and other colleagues or professionals in other fields, for that matter) who do not have these skills, and I've seen how limiting it is. Be excited to take on new tasks and new challenges; never utter the words "that's not my job"; if you do, you're in the wrong place. Get used to the bad writing of others; unfortunately, it's everywhere. If you're a decent writer, you're eons ahead of everyone else.

Emily Brown

jc78 — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 16:14:08 +0000

Emily Brown jc78 Wed, 08/29/2018 - 12:14

Career Field

Social Impact & Community Service

Executive Assistant/Social Worker

Year of Graduation

2008

To be honest, I declared a major in English because I like to read and write, figuring I would probably change majors at some point once I had a more firm career goal. That never happened, in part because I found I immensely enjoyed the English classes I took at �鶹��ý�Ŷ�, and I graduated with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Psychology.

Studying English at �鶹��ý�Ŷ� led me down an unexpected path both during and after my undergrad years. While at �鶹��ý�Ŷ�, I took a wide variety of classes but found that I was most passionate about literature giving voice to marginalized people, and I found myself selecting classes such as Visibility and Invisibility in American Literature, Literature of the African Diaspora, African American Literature, and so on. An interest in postcolonial literature and the African Diaspora in part inspired me to study abroad in South Africa, which was the most enriching semester of my college career. Wishing to live and work abroad for a longer period of time, after graduation I decided to join the Peace Corps. As a Peace Corps volunteer I spent two years teaching English and Math to grades 7 and 8 students in a rural village in Namibia.

After 27 months in Namibia (and an additional four months traveling around the world) I moved to New York City and got a job as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director at Project Renewal, a NYC based non-profit whose mission is to break the cycle of homelessness by empowering homeless individuals with health, homes, and jobs. After one year at Project Renewal, I decided to further my education in the social services field, and last year I began the One Year Residency Program at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.

There's a perception that a degree in English literature is less useful than, say, a business degree. However, I've found throughout my postgrad years that nothing could have better prepared me for my career and life. The research, analytic, critical thinking and writing skills I learned at �鶹��ý�Ŷ� have been essential to my work as a teacher and social worker. Never underestimate how much writing skills are valued — and how few people possess them. When I was hired at Project Renewal my supervisor told me that it was the thank-you note I had sent after our interview that got me the job, because she was thrilled that I could write. Spending four years critically analyzing texts has been immensely useful as a social worker, as I've found clinical practice to be a hands-on application of the same skills. Analyzing a character's motivations and applying theoretical thought is surprisingly similar to interviewing and assessing clients in a clinical setting. Furthermore, I believe studying English an excellent preparation for life in general. English majors read widely and have a large knowledge base, as well as curiosity. We're always reading, and that makes us interesting! People who read also tend to have more empathy, which is essential to connecting with and being able to work well with individuals from all backgrounds and lifestyles.

I am so thankful for many reasons for my decision to major in English. Not only did I get to spend four years reading excellent books with brilliant professors and classmates, but I can't imagine a course of study that would have been a better preparation for my life and career.