Past, Present, Future: Ah, Wilkes!

When I first attended Wilkes, it had a catchy radio jingle. It went like this – sing it with me, if you know it – “A-a-a-h-h-h, Wilkes! Uni-vers-ity. Take charge of your fu-ture. Ahhhh, WILKES!” (Tried to Google it; no luck.) Take charge of my future, I did.

Little did I know when I began at the institution in the fall of 1996 that I’d have such a lengthy history with Wilkes. As part of the tenth anniversary of its graduate creative writing program, I wanted to share how much Wilkes, not just the creative writing program, means to me. I’ll share a little (OK, maybe more than a little) about my history with Wilkes to give you some perspective on how consistent, how constant a place it’s been in my life.

The Way Past: Wilkes Chapter 1 and 2

In 1996, when I was just a babe, for English 101, I had Bonnie Culver—so I’ve been with our program’s fearless leader for many, many years. My work-study job was in marketing and communications office, located in the beautiful Weckesser Hall, which also was home to Mike Lennon’s office; he was then VP of student affairs and we passed each other on that grand staircase nearly every day.

These formative years at Wilkes were wonderful—I was involved in too many activities for my own good—student government, orientation leader, the radio station (with Jim Warner!), the TV station and the school newspaper, to name a few—but then, toward the end of my sophomore year, I dropped out of college to take a full-time radio job.

After working in radio for a few (exciting as heck) years, then as an admissions rep at a career school, I decided I needed to finish my degree. At the time, Bonnie was the interim dean of the School that housed the communications program, and between her and Jane Elmes-Crahall, communications professor, I received such warm and wonderful support in my return to what I call Wilkes: Chapter 2.

I graduated with my BA when I was about 26, and I was a more focused student. But I still wrote for the Wilkes paper!

Wilkes: Chapter 3

That wasn’t enough. I knew I wanted to continue learning. I minored in sociology (almost double majored, but that’s another story) and really took to Dr. Mike Garr. I decided to combine my love of media with my new-found interest in sociology. I applied and was accepted to The New School for its sociology of the media graduate program. I paid my $250 deposit and everything.

Then, during a senior audit, I found out that I needed a lab science class—I wouldn’t graduate Wilkes when I thought I would. My requirements had been fuzzy since I attended during two different catalog periods, and this was overlooked during my advising. I ended up taking chemistry at Luzerne County Community College that summer, and graduated in Wilkes’ September commencement. This meant The New School was out, at least for the time being; but it was OK. In the meantime, I’d been hearing about the newish graduate creative writing program; I’d been a local freelance journalist for a number of years, but had the burning desire to write longer pieces… as in book-length! So I used those clips to submit with my application. And, I guess you know the rest. MA, then MFA. I’m here. Still.

Turning a New Page

 

The Wilkes University Graduate Creative Writing Program helped me write a new future. The people, the energy, the friendships, the place.

I learned during the MA portion—a time in my life where I had a lot of irons in the fire, and therefore not a lot of focus on each of those irons—of the program that I had a LOT of work cut out for me if I wanted to tell my story. My mentor, Beverly Donofrio, asked me tough questions about myself and my work that led to epiphanies, and she reminded me that if I wanted to write a book, I needed to be disciplined. She challenged me to become a better, more serious writer—or rather, to be a writer, not just talk about being one. Having talent and abilities is one thing; putting them to use is another, I learned. Bev was what I needed at that time in my life. (I also removed some somewhat negative support from my life right after my first residency–read: end of relationship with an otherwise nice guy–and continued to surround myself with my Wilkes cohorts and other people who “got” the creative life!)

During the MFA program, my mentor, Becky Bradway helped me finish what I started. Page by page, chapter by chapter, my memoir came to new life. Her encouragement and support during the revision phase was invaluable. She became a trusted advisor and friend.

During my publishing internship with Etruscan Press, my worlds collided when I helped the small press redevelop its web presence and digital strategy.

Shortly after I completed the MFA, I launched Hippocampus Magazine; so much of the MFA experience fueled my desire to create a publication and also it gave me a solid background from which to inform my editorial decisions. The publication has grown by leaps and bounds in the past five years, most notably in that we’re hosting our first creative writing conference in August 2015. It’s called HippoCamp. Clever, huh?! Many of the folks involved with Hippocampus and HippoCamp are from the Wilkes program; so, you see, I owe Wilkes a lot!

After the Wilkes MFA program, I earned an MBA from Elizabethtown College—learning never ends, at least in my book. In today’s world, authors and publishers need to be entrepreneurs as well. I wanted to advance my business know-how, too. What a valuable experience (and new friendships), but a little heavy on the math for this wordsmith!

My careers have always been in the marketing, PR and communications realm, and during the past decade, my career really took off. But with all of the successes I’ve had professionally, my writing was still falling to the wayside. I was STILL not a writer. I wrote every day for work, but that’s not enough.

In May of this year, I left the security of a full-time job in higher ed to focus on writing for me. I’ll do some freelancing, sure: I need to survive. But to have the successes that so many of my peers are having, it finally hit me that my career was too demanding, too around-the-clock, too creative itself to make time to really focus on my own creative pursuits. So I took a chance, and I gave myself flexibility to write and create on my own terms.

Although I had an inkling of interest in going back to school one day, I didn’t think, right when I resigned, that I’d also be making time for something else so soon.

Wilkes Chapter 4 – The Present

I write this today, June 21, from Fortinsky, a residence hall on the Wilkes campus.

Just like I did when I arrived at Evans Hall with my own towels and linens in 1996, I’m living the dorm life again, at least for this week. I’m sharing a shower, and sharing new moments.

I’m back for the summer residency as an alumna, celebrating 10 great years of this amazing program that has churned out SO SO SO many talented, productive, successful writing professionals.

But I’m back for another reason as well.

I’ve decided—in the 11^th hour!—to return for a fourth Wilkes degree: a master’s of arts in publishing—a somewhat new program. I’m thrilled about being a student again, and in working with Phil Brady and Etruscan Press again, this time as a graduate assistant, and also working on my project, which is taking Hippocampus Magazine and Press LLC to the next level.

It’s the perfect timing in my personal and professional life to embark on a brand new Wilkes adventure. What’s old is new again.

There’s More to the Story

The career and writing ‘stuff’ might be why we apply to a program like Wilkes’, but that’s not  what ends up being the best part. Not for me anyway.

Since the fall after my first creative writing residency at Wilkes, a smaller group of my amazing cohort and I get together twice a year for laughs, games, reflection, junk food, more laughs—and even some writing exercises. What started as a single weekend getaway at Mike Suppa (we call him Papa Suppa)’s house in western PA turned into a tradition that we’ve kept going for nearly a decade now.

Among other places, we stayed at a state park near the battlefields of Gettysburg and lived on a houseboat (that we managed to beach in a wooded alcove) until we settled at this fantastic lodge deep in rural central PA, which has become our second home. These PEOPLE, really, have become my second home. We’ve been through many life milestones together: love, loss, sickness, health, new life, new marriages, new houses — and lots and lots of drafts and ideas. I love these guys and gals to bits.

Remember when I said I almost attended The New School? So did one of my best Wilkes friends–the same year. We both ended up at Wilkes, so this friendship was destined to happen.

And, did I mention that six of us are branded with a ‘w’ tattoo? During our final MA residency, a group of us went to Mark’s Tattooing in Wilkes-Barre and became forever marked with a letter that symbolizes our friendship, our shared adventure and stands for writing… and Wilkes.

There’s so much still in my Wilkes future, which means my Wilkes past will only continue to grow more robust. But this week, during the 10^th anniversary celebration of the graduate creative writing program, I’m just gonna enjoy the present. To. The. Fullest.

 

But, wait! There’s still more!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t throw out another meaningful Wilkes moment. Remember when I said I was an orientation leader? Well I met and became friends with a freshman guy that summer; he developed a crush on me, but I didn’t want to ruin the friendship. We remained friends from afar, but never saw each other in person for about 15 years.

Then, one day in 2011, we did. And we’ve been together ever since–ruining our friendship.

So as you can see from my Wilkes history,

I’d write my memoir in blue and gold ink if I could.