Nick Rush is a senior English student who transferred to Western Illinois University (WIU) at the beginning of the 2023 fall semester. Prior to attending WIU, Rush studied Biology and Tourism Management at various universities, including the University of Utah and the University of Illinois at Chicago. While he has fully transitioned to the life of an English Major, he still holds a passion for the great outdoors and imbues it into his writing whenever possible. At WIU, he takes great pleasure in working as the Managing Editor for The Mirror & the Lamp.

M&L: What is your weekday routine like as an English major/minor?

NR: Routinely, I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off! However, that has less to do with my status as an English Major and more with my two positions in the Malpass Library (Malpass). I’m a commuter student to Western’s Macomb campus, so beyond spending time driving back and forth, I also spend a killing on gas. Hence, the two positions I hold in Malpass. While one of the positions is fueled by a personal hobby (plant keeping) the other is closely linked to my passions as an English Major. I work as a Writing Consultant in the University Writing Center (UWC). At the UWC, I spend my time connecting and collaborating with a diverse group of students and faculty, all joined by one common thread; a love for composition and its process. During the rare times I am not working either at the UWC or running up and down the many floors of Malpass tending to its many plants, I am rushing to a literature course or to a meeting of The Mirror & the Lamp, of which I am the Managing Editor. So, as I said before, running around like a chicken with my head cut off. 

M&L: What are your weekends like?

NR: On Saturdays, I am, again, working. I work at a floral/gift shop in Galesburg, IL (my hometown) called Cooks & Company. It is a lovely shop to work at and if you are in the area, I encourage you to visit! Once my shift at Cooks & Company ends, the weekend is handed back over to my English needs. I read, write, nap for not nearly long enough, and then get back to it. Currently, I am spending a good portion of my weekends reading and annotating The Broadview Anthology of British Literature, for English 328, Survey of British Literature. While the work is challenging, I am enjoying the process of becoming more “well-read.” 

M&L: What book are all your English peers reading that lies beyond assigned texts for class?

NR: Truly, there are only a handful of my peers in the English program who consistently work reading into their daily lives. Many of us, after completing the copious amounts of assigned readings, withdraw to the confines of our screens, which is something I am actively trying to change within myself. Lately, I have fallen in love with pleasure reading again and am tearing my way through as many fantasy novels as I possibly can. I just finished rereading S.A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad Trilogy because she released two more novels existing within this universe. I am so excited to read some new content from Chakraborty, who has quickly become one of my favorite fantasy writers.

M&L: What book has changed your life as an undergraduate?

NR: Wow, this is a tough question. As I reflect on my undergraduate career, which has spanned various universities and persisted through multiple gap years, there is one piece of fiction that comes to mind as “life-changing,” one that I read long before becoming an English Major. This piece was a short story rather than a novel, but its impact was not lessened by its length/scope. “In the Life,” by American poet, Becky Birtha, is a beautiful story that follows a Black, lesbian couple existing in a time when they would have been ostracized for both identities. However, Birtha writes a gorgeous story centered on the love of this unlikely couple, one that leaves the reader pondering the longevity of human life and how it might be lengthened through boundless love. This story impacted me deeply and emotionally, but more significantly, it changed the way I read. In the story, Birtha’s characters drift in and out of time, clinging to a past in which they both still lived and loved. This narrative showed me the impact of scene sequencing, something I carry with me while I read and write. I doubt I’ll ever put this down.

M&L: Where do you hang out on campus?

NR: I, unfortunately, don’t hang out anywhere. When I hear “hang” I associate that with free time, which is a resource that I do not have. However, while I am on campus, I bounce back and forth between Malpass and Simpkins Hall. Last semester, I could often be found in the reading room, a place that I grew to be quite comfortable in.

M&L: Where do you hang out off campus?

NR: On the days that I am not on campus, I spend most of my time either at home, in my room (a place that I have carefully curated to provide relaxation and comfort), at the Beanhive (my favorite coffee shop in Galesburg), or walking at Lake Storey with my dog, Bigsby. Often, I am doing school work while “hanging” out at these places, even when I am walking my dog! I’ll sometimes bring my backpack and after tiring Bigsby out, set up shop at a picnic table to knock out a task or two. He loves the outing, and I get to be productive. It’s a win-win.

M&L: What has been or will be your biggest adventure as an undergraduate English major/minor?

NR: Truthfully, working as the Managing Editor of this publication, The Mirror & the Lamp. Ever since I joined the publication last semester (Spring 2024), it has become more and more obvious that I have chosen the right field. From covering events hosted by Western’s English department to polishing the magazine’s layout design, I love every step of this work and take each with pride. I am so excited to help produce the strongest publication possible during my time as Managing Editor.