Ryan King

My path toward becoming an English major has been shaped by my time in two very different educational environments: Bennington Academy in Vermont and Southern Maine Community College. Each institution influenced my academic growth in distinct ways, and together they helped me understand not only how I learn but why literature and writing continue to be central to my life. At Bennington Academy, the expectation for rigorous reading and precise written expression pushed me to develop strong analytical habits early on. The environment encouraged close attention to language and structure, and I learned to approach texts with discipline and patience.

My transition to Southern Maine Community College expanded that foundation in ways I didn’t anticipate. Community college placed me in classrooms with students whose backgrounds, ages, and experiences varied widely, and as a result, discussions took on an energy and openness I hadn’t encountered before. Literature became less about finding the “correct” reading and more about understanding how different perspectives shape interpretation. Courses in composition, humanities, and creative writing challenged me to use my own voice more confidently and to write with an awareness previously absent. I discovered how writing can serve as both expression and connection, and I gained a deeper appreciation for the way stories reflect and reshape lived experience.

Together, Bennington Academy and Southern Maine Community College shaped me into the kind of English major I want to be... One grounded in the analytical discipline fostered by the academy and strengthened by the intellectual openness and diversity of community college. Through both institutions, I learned that literature is not just an object of study but a shared space where ideas collide and deepen one another. As I continue my studies, I carry forward both the rigor and the curiosity these places instilled in me.