Note. Some photos of me and my cats (left to right) Spider, Kitten, and Leota.

Carter Myers is a sophomore English Literature and Language major at Western Illinois University (WIU); as well, Myers is currently in pursuit of three minors, Professional Writing, Creative Writing, and General Music. At WIU, Myers enjoys being heavily involved throughout campus, and when not running around, can often be found reading or studying within Simpkins 027 student lounge. If there is anything English-related on campus, Myers tries to be involved! Myers loves spending their free time with friends or writing about media, especially Doctor Who. 

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

CM: “I wake up every morning / wide awake for the day [most of the time]” -The Lego Movie

Right now, I am taking quite a collection of English classes alongside my gen eds, so each day differs in its routine. However, essentially, with slight variation, I attend classes from around 10 AM–3 PM every day. I then take a lovely power nap for half an hour, and finally spend the rest of my time doing homework, furthering my hobbies, and getting involved in my daily extracurriculars. I also try to make time to pay attention to what is going on in town. For example, I often see a new movie at VIP Cinemas every Tuesday evening.

M&L: What are your weekends like? 

CM: Oh! My weekends are lovely. Of course, I have quite a bit of homework to do each week, but overall, my weekends are the time that I get to relax! I am lucky (I do not currently work, as I worked and saved all summer), so right now, I get to chill and hang out with my friends each weekend. I do not have any sort of routine for weekends aside from sleeping in (which is awesome), and I hope that I get to keep it that way! During the weekends, you can often find me in the Corbin/Olson dining hall, studying with friends, or around campus, participating in events!

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

CM: There is quite a bit of diversity in the book choices of my peers. I know that a lot of individuals in the English Department are very fond of high fantasy, such as A Court of Thorns and Roses. The English book club, The Book Was Better, is currently reading The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, though I think overall, everyone’s personal preference differs quite a bit! I am often drawn to Media-Tie in novels as a sort of guilty pleasure reading, but I know that everyone has their own favorite genre!

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

CM: I am only just beginning my sophomore year as an undergraduate, though my Goodreads account says that over the past year and a half, I have read 126 ‘books’ (I say in air quotes). I thoroughly enjoyed most of these books, but I am not sure that any of them directly changed my life. I will say, though, that three books/series immediately stand out to me as incredibly memorable. Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series (which I read all of last fall) certainly helped me ‘get back’ into reading, and it left a deliciously favorable taste in my mouth. Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures brought forth a love that I now possess for modern literary fiction (a love that was further exemplified by Emily St. John Mandel’s work). Brian Michael Bendis’ original Alias series helped me realize that any media works for storytelling axs long as the story is strong.

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

CM: I live on campus and very rarely leave, so one could pretty reasonably find me anywhere on campus. However, some places that one is more likely to encounter me are my dorm room (duh), Simpkins 027, Browne Hall, and the third floor of Malpass Library. If I am in public, I am probably studying or chatting with friends, but feel free to come and say hi!

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

CM: Again, I very rarely leave campus. If I do (and am not running errands), I am often out every Tuesday night, attending a new movie for $5.50 at VIP Cinemas. I also frequent a pizza restaurant in Carthage, IL, called Alfonos, which may quite seriously be my favorite restaurant in Illinois. If you ever see me in public, don’t be afraid to say hi!

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

CM: Currently, I am debating whether to keep my major as English Literature/Language or change it to English Education. Pursuing English Education will be my biggest adventure if that is the pathway I journey down. If I choose to remain an English Literature/Language major, though, I have a lovely adventure approaching this upcoming November. Some fellow English students, along with myself, will be attending and participating in the National Conference for Teachers of Education (NCTE) in Boston, and I am very excited about that!