English Major Spotlight: Cass Bryant
Year: Junior
Hometown: Hugo, MN
Why did you choose to major in English?
Words, stories, and analysis have always drawn my attention; I love solving the puzzle of language, unraveling how something is working or what it is trying to do. Thus, I deeply enjoyed my English classes in middle and high school. During an AP English Literature course my senior year of high school, I fell in love with the discussions literature can ignite, and I was sure I would study English.
Are you pursuing any majors, minors, internships, or interests outside your English major?
I am pursuing minors in Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature and Creative Writing as well as the Certificate in Editing and Publishing. I like to think that as a whole I am studying stories: stories we’ve told, stories yet to be told, how we tell them, how to tell them, and what all of it means. I’m delighted to delve into all of the nooks and crannies of storytelling, and I hope to continue my study of stories with this foundation in some form of publishing after graduation.
What is a favorite book you read for a UMN English class?
I read Neil Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Lane for a "British Literature II" survey during spring of my sophomore year. During a stressful and snowy semester the spooky, tender brilliance of the novel and Gaiman’s style was exactly what I needed.
What English course(s) would you especially recommend?
Take a creative writing course! Even if you’re only mildly interested in creative writing, it’s a great way to stretch your creative thinking, practice unique writing skills, and meet a wide variety of great people.
What is your favorite thing about Pillsbury Hall?
Pillsbury Hall is a beautiful building. I remember showing it off to my high school classmates after orientation, smug that I got to take classes in a castle of colorful brick, winding staircases, and a turret to boot! I love that I almost always get to see a familiar face when I hang out there. During my first year, I was surprised that I would get to run into people I knew so often at such a big university. Now, it’s a joy to share a wave or catch up in the halls between classes.