Tag Archives: Language

student blogs

The Final Stretch

As we move into our final class of the semester, especially since the university is transitioning to a Friday schedule next week, it feels unreal to know that today will be my last graduate class. I’ve essentially been in school my entire life, starting in kindergarten and continuing straight through to this point without much interruption. It has been a constant rhythm in my life, shaping my habits and my goals. Taking a step back from that, even temporarily, feels both strange and significant, and it’s bittersweet to know that I’ve reached this point almost at the finish line and getting ready for what’s next in my life.

I’m currently in the process of writing and adding the final touches to Part III. Once Part III is complete, my plan is to move into a full revision and proofreading stage for Parts I and III. From there, I will begin shaping the overall design of this memoir, something I’ve already started exploring through the flipbook idea and by converting the work into a live PDF link. With today’s class centered on design and formatting, it makes me feel more confident and reassured about the timing and direction I’m heading in, especially as things are beginning to wrap up and come together.

Looking forward to seeing you all for our last class together!

Schedule: 

  • 4/21–4/27: Finish Part III. Design and format the book using Pressbook, Flipbook, Canva, WordPress.
  • 4/28–5/5: Last revisions and proofreads. Designing/formatting as needed. 
  • 5/6: Submit all work.
student blogs

On track with Part III

After our last class, I gained the clarity I needed on the literature review, specifically on how many peer-reviewed articles to include in part III and whether all of them were necessary. That understanding really helped relieve some of the pressure I had been feeling.

With that in mind, I made some meaningful progress on Part III. Although it’s still a work in progress, I have a strong sense of direction and can see how everything is beginning to come together. It’s reassuring to feel aligned and on track with my outline and confident in the direction I’m heading.

Over the next few weeks, my focus will be on continuing to build and refine Part III while being more intentional about how I integrate the literature. I want the sources/quotes to flow naturally within my writing and enhance my ideas, rather than disrupt my voice. Overall, I’m feeling motivated and excited to keep developing this section.

My outline for the upcoming weeks remain the same:

  • 3/31–4/6: Continue developing Part III and prepare for presentation series
  • 4/7–4/13: Finalize Part III 
  • 4/14–4/20: Revise Parts I, II, & III as needed 
  • 4/21–4/27: Design and format the book using Pressbook, Flipbook, Canva, WordPress
  • 4/28–5/4: Finalize all revisions and edits; submit all work

student blogs

Back in Motion

Sometimes progress comes with unexpected pauses. This past week, I faced a setback when I temporarily lost access to the work I’ve been developing all semester. It felt overwhelming at first. However, it became a reminder of how quickly things can change. It also highlighted how important it is to adapt. Thankfully, with the help of Kean’s IT team, they were able to recover my files. I’ve since transferred everything from Google Drive to Microsoft OneDrive to make sure my work is secure moving forward.

Although the situation forced me to slow down, it also gave me space to reflect and reset. Now that everything is back in place, I’m ready to move ahead with clarity and focus. The autoethnography is nearly finished, needing only a few final refinements. This week, I’m aiming to complete that portion and begin outlining and drafting Part 3. 

I’m beginning to envision Part 3. I see it as the space where everything comes together. This includes research, reflection, and lived experience. This section will draw heavily from my literature review to support a deeper analysis of trauma and healing. I want to ground my personal narrative in scholarly conversations that explore how trauma shapes identity, memory, and the body, and how healing can unfold. The literature review will serve as a framework, helping me contextualize not only my own experiences but also the themes that emerged throughout this project.

It will also include an analysis of the interview transcripts, examining patterns, shared experiences, and moments of resonance. I’m interested in highlighting where stories intersect, where they diverge, and what they reveal about the complexities of processing trauma. 

Another central focus will be the process of healing through writing itself. I plan to explore how storytelling became more than documentation, it became a method of release, understanding, and reclaiming agency. Writing created space to confront difficult memories, re-frame them, and ultimately transform them.

student blogs

Minor Setback

Hi all, 

I hope you’ve all been staying warm and safe during the recent blizzard! Honestly, the thought that there might be more snow later this week is a little overwhelming. I’m definitely ready for some warmer, snow-free days.

This past weekend, I was making serious progress on finalizing my autoethnography. Then today, I went to log into the Kean Google Drive and I realized I no longer have access to all of my files. It was surprising. Thankfully, I still have everything from Thesis 1. Realizing it might be temporarily out of reach was stressful, to say the least. I’ve submitted a ticket to Kean IT to see if they can help me get just one document that would help. Fingers crossed. 🤞

Even with that curveball, I’m trying to stay patient. If IT can’t fix it quickly, plan B is in motion—I’ll find a way to recover everything. I also wanted to give myself the last week of February to finish up the autoethnography. Then, I planned to dive into Part 3 of the memoir throughout March. In our last class, we talked about how having the whole month for this section is perfect. It gives me plenty of time to really dig into my thoughts and reflections so I don’t feel rushed. I agree with that outline. However, now with these news, it may push things back a bit. That’s what I’m most nervous about. Still, I’m hopeful that everything is going to be okay.

See you all in class.

student blogs

Finding Direction



This past week I’ve been focused on shaping the autoethnography, and it’s finally starting to come together. After our class discussion last week, the project stopped feeling scattered and started to feel more intentional and cohesive. I’m seeing clearer connections between my personal experiences and the bigger themes. This makes the whole thing feel more meaningful. As I go through the pieces I’m writing, I’ve started noticing patterns. These patterns are helping me figure out how to organize and analyze each section. It’s exciting to see the pieces start to fit together and to realize that the story I’m telling isn’t just about me, it’s connected to broader cultural and social ideas, too.

I’ve been steadily writing and revising, moving back and forth between expanding new sections and refining existing ones. The process hasn’t been linear; at times I’m energized and adding new pieces, and at others I’m carefully revising language, deepening analysis, and strengthening transitions. Even though the document sometimes feels like organized chaos, each revision brings more clarity and cohesion. Seeing the overall trajectory more clearly has helped me identify what needs further development and where certain reflections fit best. I’m aiming to complete a solid rough draft by next week. If not, it will be done by the end of the month at the latest. This timeline is keeping me focused and intentional.

student blogs

Taking Shape

Hi all! I hope everyone’s been staying safe and warm with the snow. Just a few days before the storm hit, my family and I flew down to Florida. The timing was perfect for a family trip to celebrate my niece’s 10th birthday. We visited the theme parks: Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Universal’s Epic Universe (see photos below!). The weather has been surprisingly nice. It’s mostly been cooler, which has been a nice change. Overall, it’s been a fun mix of family time, theme parks, and a much-needed break from winter. 

Reflecting on our class last week, I wanted to share how valuable the individual one-on-one meetings were. It really helped clarify not only where to start, but more importantly, where to pick back up. I still have some loose ends in my piece, and as I discussed with Dr. Zamora, I’ve been writing this thesis in fragments. I’m continuing to work on how to bring everything together in a way that feels smooth and cohesive. Another area I’m revisiting is the research component and making sure it’s meaningfully integrated into the narrative. I left the meeting with a lot of clarity around what I need to start working on right away. I believe focusing on these things will really help me start building and assist in putting together the final piece. Please see the to-do timeline/outline I put together below.

Be well, all. See you next week in class. 

  • Compile and review all materials 
    • Gather all existing work related to the project, including the Digital Literature Project, introduction, drafted scenes and fragments, and notes or in-class writings. Review these materials to identify gaps, overlaps, and areas needing revision or expansion.
  • Family Consultation and Ethical Considerations
    • Speak with family and friends to address pseudonyms and anonymization. Work through challenges related to representing shared experiences respectfully and integrating research in a way that supports, rather than overwhelm, the personal narrative.
  • Structure: A three-part memoir
    • Part I: Autoethnography
      • Introduce early memories with my sister and form our relationship and family dynamics.
    • Part II: The Accident
      • Recount the event and its immediate emotional and physical impact from my perspective as a sister and witness.
      • Incorporate analysis of interview transcripts as a method. 
    • Part III: Healing and Trauma
      • Explore the aftermath, focusing on healing, coping, and the long-term impact of trauma on our family as a collective experience.

student blogs

That’s a Wrap Take Care, All!

Our last class of the semester was both exciting and a little bittersweet. The potluck-style gathering gave us a chance to unwind and celebrate, while presenting our projects one final time made me reflect on how much we’ve all grown. As I shared my work, I felt like I should be further along, but I reminded myself that progress isn’t about perfection and that the project would eventually come together. I really valued everyone’s feedback, it sparked new ideas and gave me motivation to keep going, even with the work that still remains. I had originally started my project in WordPress, but it became challenging to manage, so I switched to a custom website at the last minute. It feels more secure and easier to work with, and I’m excited to see the project fully take shape.

This course has been an incredibly meaningful experience. It opened my eyes to how different electronic literature is from traditional storytelling. Working with it encouraged me to think beyond words on a page, taking into account design, interactivity, and user experience as part of the narrative. The process challenged me to be creative, problem-solve, and step outside of my comfort zone, particularly while developing and refining my final project. I’m grateful for the feedback, support, and ideas shared throughout the semester as they shaped my work in ways I didn’t anticipate.

As this journey comes to an end, I’m excited to continue building on what I’ve learned and see where these skills take me next. I can’t wait to finally finish my project and see it all come together. 

Wishing everyone the best of luck with their final projects and future endeavors, and wishing you all a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season!

student blogs

E-lit Progress

I hope everyone enjoyed and had a safe and restful Thanksgiving. With the end of the semester only a few weeks away, I’ve been reflecting more deeply on how my project is taking shape.

Our workshop last week helped me clarify so much. I walked away with new perspectives and ideas that shifted how I’m approaching this piece. Even though I’ve had the core concept for a while, I still wasn’t sure how to structure or design it. Emily’s suggestion to experiment with Canva and/or Prezi really stood out to me since both platforms offer the kind of flexible, visual design that can suit a nonlinear story like mine.

Right now, I’m imagining the project as a multimedia scrapbook, an experience that blends essays, poems, audio recordings, voice notes, photographs, and other digital materials. A big part of my current process is collecting and curating all those multimedia elements I need, and figuring out how they speak to one another. I’m also working on an outline/timeline of activities to help me organize and remember those fragmented memories that will shape the narrative.

This is definitely an interactive and evolving process. Ideas keep feeding each other, and each new piece changes the shape of the overall story. With a project like this, it feels especially important to pause, think, and analyze every step so the final piece remains cohesive, emotional, and intentional.

student blogs

E-Literature Final Project

It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the end of another semester. As I reflect on my E-lit final project one thing becomes clear: memory isn’t linear. It jumps, fragments, and lingers in unexpected ways. That’s the kind of story I want to tell. This semester has shown me that digital literature can capture that messy, layered experience something print alone can’t fully achieve.

My project is inspired by Retratos Vivos de Mamá, a piece that moved me deeply with its mix of archival materials and the intimate way it explores mourning. I imagine creating a digital “darkroom” filled with memories connected to my sister’s car accident, my family, and the ways grief and healing have shaped us. Instead of a traditional narrative, users would explore floating images, letters, voice notes, and short written reflections. Each artifact would develop as the reader interacts with it slowly coming into focus.

I want this project to be something you don’t just read, but enter moving through it with curiosity, softness, and maybe even a little discomfort. The interactivity won’t be about solving puzzles but about navigating a space that gradually reveals itself, like wandering through memory or choosing which emotional piece you’re ready to engage with. I’m excited to workshop this idea in our next class, and see how it can grow into a digital story that makes memory, emotion, and interaction feel alive.

student blogs

All Your Time Tossed-Selves & Hana Feels

All Your Time-Tossed Selves

When I first opened All Your Time-Tossed Selves, I didn’t expect much from a Google Form. Within moments Porpentine transformed the familiar interface into something strange, poetic, and unexpectedly emotional. The structure itself: the radio buttons, drop-down lists, required fields, multiple choice questions, and linear flow became elements of the narrative. These components contributed to the story. I felt as though I was moving through a world where every decision mattered, yet nothing could truly change the outcome. That illusion of control perfectly echoed the piece’s theme of loss and inevitability, reminding me of a digital, choose your own adventure style poem.

What struck me most was the moment I realized I could see the responses of others who had played before me. At first, it felt like an invasion of privacy, as if I were glimpsing something I shouldn’t be. But soon it turned hauntingly beautiful, it was like uncovering traces of other travelers who had once wandered through the same ruins. Their words and choices added a new meaning onto my own experience. What I enjoy most about, All Your Time-Tossed Selves was how it reclaimed something ordinary and turned it into art. Porpentine used a Google Form to create something intimate and deeply human.

Hana Feels

This piece was so interesting, especially in the way it blended mental health awareness with digital storytelling. Hana Feels stood out to me because it invited empathy through interactivity, turning the reader into an active participant rather than a observer. Taking on different roles and speaking with Hana made the experience feel immediate and emotionally charged. Every response carried a weight that language has real power: to comfort, to harm, or to heal. The multiple endings added depth to that message, showing how the smallest shift in tone or understanding could completely change Hana’s outcome.

What I found most impactful was how Hana Feels used digital form to model real-world compassion. The interactive format created a sense of responsibility. It initiated reflection. This encourages readers to think about how they respond to vulnerability in their own lives. In this way, the piece becomes more than literature. It’s a meaningful exercise in empathy and awareness. It shows how electronic narratives can engage both the heart and the mind.