Memorable experiences in English: I am so grateful to all my professors and classmates for making every single English class at Duke so immensely enjoyable. Over the past four years, I have learned to not only engage with texts more critically, but also how to engage with perspectives different than mine with more empathy. I will never forget my gateway course with Professor Malouf where our small, small class read and talked and took long walks – thanks for making me want to be an English major. And a big thank you to Professor Ferraro for teaching me how to think on paper and pushing me to realise that there is always more than one right answer. While the Allen building will always feel like home, I felt most at peace when I sat out on the verandah of the Languages building, reading a book or writing an essay in warm sunlight.
Farewell wishes for your classmates: I was late to the game declaring my major but once I began taking English classes, I realized just how much I enjoyed the company of my classmates. They taught me how to think harder, write better and to let my guard down and just say “wow, I never really thought of that!” I am excited to see how you all shape the world around you.
Your plans/hopes for the future: After Duke, I plan to work as a social impact consultant focusing on the intersection of financial inclusion and women empowerment in India.
Faculty Remarks:
Your insights from the Contemporary Novel class stay with me even now – several years on. I was delighted to catch up with you for lunch this year, and hear about how you wish to combine what you learned from the English major with global development or NGO work. I think you would love Shameem Black’s essay on “Microloans and Micronarratives” as it gets at the power and uses of storytelling outside of the traditional genres of fiction. Whatever you decide to do next, I hope you will keep me posted!
Warmest wishes,
Aarthi (Prof. Vadde)
