Taylor Holan is a senior English student with a focus in Literature and Language, who transferred to Western Illinois University (WIU) at the start of the 2023 school year. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies from Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, IA. Her greatest joys in life are reading, traveling, and attending concerts. At WIU, she is a Senior Editor for The Mirror & the Lamp and the Social Media Manager of Sigma Tau Delta.

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

TH: It all depends on the day. I’m a commuter from Burlington, IA, and I carpool with a longtime friend, so I’m awake at 6 a.m. pretty much every day. We drive the hour, and we attend classes from 8 a.m. until noon (Monday and Friday). I spend my Wednesdays on campus until 8:30 p.m., attending evening classes. On Tuesdays, I volunteer at Footnotes Used Bookstore at the Burlington Public Library, and on Thursdays, I work at Taco John’s in Burlington as an Assistant Manager. When I’m not actively in class or at work, you can find me working on homework (my friends call me an “academic weapon”), or reading a book.

M&L: What are your weekends like?

TH: Unfortunately, college is expensive. I spend my weekends working the opening shift at Taco John’s. Saturday evenings I have “movie night,” a long-standing date with a friend, which consists of us experimenting with new recipes for dinner and then watching a movie or TV show. I try not to do homework on the weekends just because that’s my time to recharge and relax, but if I haven’t finished my Monday assignments for some reason, I’ll do them on Sunday evenings. Otherwise, I watch a movie, TV, YouTube, etc., or I’ll read a book.

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

TH: My English peers and best friends have been harassing me about reading Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (really, any book by her). I finished the first one (ToG) but decided to take a break before reading the rest. For me, it was a difficult story to get through, but the ending had me intrigued, and I want to know how the rest of the story plays out. On Goodreads, I wrote “I don’t get the hype. But I’m still gonna read the whole series because I’m not a quitter,” which is exactly how I feel about it. It’s not horrible, but it’s not what I expected based on everyone’s opinions.

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

TH: It’s really hard to pinpoint a book that was life-changing in a dramatic sense, but I can pinpoint a series that altered my life a tiny bit. Embarrassing to admit, but important nonetheless, is that I stopped reading for pleasure once I hit high school. I only recently got back into reading for pleasure, and I have my carpool buddy to thank for that. She lent me the Twisted books by Ana Huang, and I flew through all four of them in four days. Since then, I’ve finished 37 books for pleasure (plus the three books I’ve read for class). So, I guess you could say that Twisted Love by Ana Huang changed my life in the sense that it brought back my love for pleasure reading.

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

TH: On campus, I’m often found in the Simpkins Lounge (Room 25), but you can also find me in the Malpass Library study rooms. Occasionally I might attend a Forensics Club meeting as an honorary member (my carpool buddy is the VP). I love a good Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino and ’tis the season, so I imagine I’ll spend some time in the Union in the coming months, getting my coffee from The Daily Drool.

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

TH: Off-campus, I basically live in my bedroom. It’s so quiet and cozy and makes a great place for homework and reading. If I’m not home or at “movie night”, I can be found dragging my boyfriend through Target or Walmart to shop for books. If I’m feeling extra adventurous, I like to hike the Black Hawk Trails in Dankwardt/Crapo Park or visit Starr’s Cave Nature Preserve, both in Burlington, IA.

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

TH: I’ve already had my biggest adventure as an undergraduate. In the spring of 2022, I went with a group of students at my community college to the United Kingdom for nine days. We explored the UK on a Harry Potter–themed trip, and I made memories that will last a lifetime. Then in the spring of 2024, I went with my community college again, on a thirteen-day trip to Central Europe. We explored Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France.