Undergraduate Open House with the School of English Studies

Me, Repping the School of English Studies at the Open House in our Hardwood Arena.

Nostalgic! Talk about a flashback in time! Kean University Undergraduate Open House on Saturday, September 17, 2022, was fantastic! Additionally, I remember attending in 2018 to prepare for my return to Kean after 30 years. Yes, that is correct. I was accepted to reapply after I opted out of my great acceptance into Kean for motherhood those 30-plus years ago. But I never forgot my desire to major and minor in English Communication.

According to our President Lamont O. Repollet’s Welcome, Kean University Undergraduate Open House is a beautiful opportunity to gain experience more about the academic programs that interest you (like the School of English Studies Department), tour our beautiful campus, meet admissions and financial aid advisors, and chat with current students to get further insight into our vibrant community.

Besides our amazing guests passing through, the Swag Bag Giveaway is still a favorite attraction. The atmosphere, exciting welcome, meeting the Deans, and other programs on the agenda, including the fantastic entertainment, overwhelmed me. During Major Mixer, the School of English Studies was in the midst, providing essential knowledge about what you can do and why it is okay to become an English Major. I will share that topic in my next Blog Post.

While tabling at the Open House and speaking with attendee Mariel, she reminded me of how English has always been my passion. Like Maribel, I have loved writing since I was a young child. Thus, I decided to share a passage I expounded upon in one of my past Kean English courses taken from Award Winner Poet Elizabeth Acevedo’s, The Poet X regarding the budding poet in me that I hope to inspire you to be an English Major:

Although I was one of the first students to arrive in English class the following day, Ms. Dowdy had other plans. Though I prepared and promised myself, I would not speak up when Ms. Dowdy asked me how I was doing. However, my words tripped over themselves instantly when she finally posed "that question." They rushed out my mouth, liking rushing running water: "Soyourunthepoetryclubright?" What was I thinking? But thank goodness, Ms. Dowdy does not laugh but instead raises her head and nods. "Yes, Valerie, you! Shocked and in awe, my emotions were all tangled up and confused. She explained in detail how the spoken word is performed in poetry. The spoken word Valerie is poetry written on a page but performed for an audience. And I believe you would be great at it," she says with sheer excitement, as though she could see something in me that I did not!

As any good high school English teacher, or remarkable college professor, Ms. Dowdy did not stop there; she responded, "It might be easier if I showed you." She then pulled a clip up for today's introduction to the class. Before I could answer Bam, sounding hopeful, she asked me, "are you thinking of joining the club?" I shook my head with an adamant No, and she gave me that look when someone sizes me up and thinks I should think things over. Perhaps, it is true she saw a budding poet and English writer in me (Allen, p. 1), as we see in Maribel and you that you may not yet see in yourself.

Elizabeth and me safe during her visit as Kean’s Common Read Program Guest Speaker.

Special thanks to every student, parent/guardian, friend, and guest of Kean students for stopping by our table. Thank you for attending our Undergraduate Open House, and we encourage you to apply to the School of English Studies and begin your path to climb higher as an English Major, Minor, or Intern. And save the date for our next upcoming event, “What Can You Do with an English Major?” Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 3:20-4:20 PM. CAS 308.

To learn more about the School of English Studies and remain in constant contact, email english@kean.edu and connect with us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/KeanEnglish, https://twitter.com/KeanEnglish, https://www.instagram.com/keanenglish/, and see you at our next event… 😊