English - Student Profile - Lindsay Zesiger

Lindsay works with Schowalter Villa residents at a creative writing workshop.

Lindsay Zesiger
Sophomore, English
Exeland, Wis.

What attracted you to majoring in English?
I've always been a bit of a book worm, digging through any type of literature I can. But in high school, I had a wonderful English teacher who introduced me to the finer points of poetry and British literature. Thanks to him, I stuck with my interest in reading and writing. I hope one day to be able to teach English classes with as much enthusiasm as he did.

How challenging are the academics in the English program?
They're as challenging as you make them. I've always enjoyed a challenge, so I prefer to take on some of the more advanced classes like Modern Literature, Advanced College Writing and such. For me, it would be easy to slide by with a B in my English classes, but I like to get the most out of my education, so I work hard for that A, pushing myself (and allowing my instructors to push me) to the best of my ability.

What is your favorite English course? Why is it your favorite?
Currently, I'm involved in an independent creative writing class. It's by far the most challenging and rewarding class I've taken thus far. I've been writing some of my own "short" stories and working on the possiblity of publication. It's challenging to write your own story and let go of your hard work enough to let others read and critique it. But the writing also offers a pleasant break from the typical coursework I have, allowing me to write on things that I enjoy writing about--home, farming, hunting, etc.

Did you find opportunities/ learning experiences outside of the classroom?
Again, it's sort of the type of thing that there's as many experiences as you make for yourself. This semester I had the opportunity to help teach a mini writing course as Schowalter Villa (a nearby retirement community) with some of the residents there. College students and professors also came to participate, as I had the role of assisstant teacher this time. Other times students sometimes get together to informally discuss a book they're reading. You just need to look for opportunities like this.

What are the professors like in the department?
Well, to be honest, I've only ever had classes with Andrea Krause. She's been my academic advisor while I've been here and taught all of the English classes I've taken. She's been very influential while I've been here, collaborating with me on my writing, supporting any optional projects I've taken on, but most importantly encouraging me to continue to build my writing skills. Andrea takes the time to work with each student individually; something I value in any teacher.

What are some of your most memorable moments as a student at Hesston?
Wow...there's so many. I enjoy much of the student life (which I won't share at the moment, as for most of it, you'd have to be there to understand). However, my most recent memorable moment would probably actually be discussing my next writing project with Andrea and actually feeling mentally stimulated as ideas formed and built in my brain. I know it sounds nerdy to have a class moment as a memorable moment, but it was refreshing to talk about something I wanted to talk about during class time.

What are your plans for after Hesston?
Well, I'm transferring to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., to finish out my schooling. I'm planning to continue with the English focus in my Secondary Education major. Eventually, I hope to teach high school English literature and writing (somewhere in Wisconsin would be nice), but we'll see where God leads me.