Kishi Blue is a sophomore at Western Illinois University (WIU). She is majoring in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing and minoring in History.

I strive to become a best-selling author and literary editor for a major publishing company one day. At the same time, I find it rewarding and creatively inspiring to absorb as much of our world’s history as I can while applying what I learn to the stories I write.

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

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I attend my English classes at Simpkins Hall. On my off days, Tuesday and Thursday, I catch up on my online courses and make sure all of my homework is done. I find it easier to focus on homework for a specific class on the day it is scheduled. However, if I have the day to myself, you will often catch me reading and writing during my spare time.

M&L: What are your weekends like?

Typically on the weekends, I still have work scheduled to do for my online math and history classes. The end of my week usually consists of more tests, quizzes, and readings that I have to get done for Monday. It is rare for me to have a weekend to myself, but when I do, I am often binge-watching a show I like, playing with my dog, sleeping as much as I can or writing an original novel.

M&L: What book are all your English peers reading beyond what is assigned for class?

I recall a classmate of mine telling me that they’ve been reading Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses. It is a tale about a human girl who gets sucked into a magical world with faeries and demons that changes her view of the world around her. I find that people tend to go for the fantasy and romance genres than anything else. 

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

As an undergraduate, I would say that the book that changed my life was David Pelzer’s A Child Called It. It had quite a dramatic emotional impact on me, both as a kid and when I read it again as an adult. In my opinion, this book contains one of the most horrific depictions of child abuse in literature. It changed my perspective on morality and the black and white thinking that comes with it. Reading it as a kid was the first time I realized the horrific things humans were capable of.

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

The WIU Rec Center happens to be my favorite place to hang out. I love to swim, and I love the pool there. I do laps and keep myself active. I relax in the hot tub and play music on my phone when nobody else is there. Overall, it’s a place that I find useful when keeping myself as active as possible outside of school. 

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

Admittedly, I hardly leave the house. I prefer to hang out in my own dorm and read rather than hang out anywhere off campus. Sometimes, I like to go to the movies when I feel stir-crazy. Other times, I just hang out with friends and family, but at the end of the day, I am an introvert with a quickly-depleting social battery. 

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

Writing for Elements Magazine! It helped me get my foot in the door as a writer wanting to build a portfolio. Sort of a small taste of what it looks like to work with a team and build something together for publication. Though I live a relatively boring life off campus, I like to find adventures through anything that helps further my career experience.