As the Class of 2025 prepares to depart from King Street, seniors Emily Shull and Gianna Walsh plan to pursue English. The two seniors shared how their experiences at Sacred Heart Greenwich shaped their passion for the subject and influenced their decision to study it further.
In the fall, Emily will attend the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she plans to major in English. She hopes to earn a degree in literature and eventually become both a novelist and a professor of English Literature. Emily described how the beauty and transformative power of words inspired her to delve into the English field, along with the important values that literature fosters.
“Truly, I could spend all day in an English classroom,” Emily said. “I believe words are the most beautiful thing we possess and perhaps, too the most powerful. Thus, I chose to pursue a degree in English because I think that words do have the power to change the world. Honestly, I have always known that literature is the field in which I would like to study. I think that English courses allow me to be able to think both critically and creatively at the same time, which are two skills that are very necessary in our world today.”
Throughout her time at Sacred Heart, Emily developed a keen passion for reading and writing, thanks to the support of Sacred Heart educators. She shared how her classes and teachers helped prepare her for the next level of academics in English, as she continues to discover her interests in the field.
“I think that my teachers at Sacred Heart have prepared me exceptionally well for collegiate English,” Emily said. “From the junior year American Literature research paper to discussions in the hallway with Mrs. Martin, Dr. Baptista, and classmates, I have been able to develop and strengthen my critical thinking skills. Most importantly, my English teachers throughout my four years of high school have instilled in me a sense of passion for reading and writing. I think being passionate about what you are studying is one of the most crucial steps toward success and living a content life.”
Gianna will study at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where she plans to major in English, with a possible double major in Sociology. Her interest in English began at Sacred Heart, where new stories and classes broadened her perspective on storytelling. Gianna explained how her experiences in English classes sparked her passion for the subject.
“Sophomore year, I took Dr. Mottolese’s English class and it changed my perspective,” Gianna said. “I started enjoying [English] more as opposed to dreading it as a class. In addition, last year, in Dr. Baptista’s class, we read books like The Great Gatsby and The Glass Menagerie. The storytelling was so rich and beautiful and the language they used was so inspirational to me, ultimately playing a huge part in my decision to major in English.”
Gianna’s love for storytelling is a key inspiration behind her decision to dive into English studies. Her hope for the future is to share her passion for storytelling and the English language with others. Gianna shared that by studying English and applying it to the real world, she hopes to help others recognize the artistry of the English language, especially in storytelling.
“Ultimately, I want to be able to share my love of storytelling with people around me,” Gianna said. “I think that some people, when they read books, miss the craft of it and pay more attention to the plot. However, I think majoring in English can bring that into a larger context, by helping people to understand the beauty behind the written word and the English language in general, especially when put into a form of storytelling. Overall, I hope to share the love of what I find super admirable in English.”
Featured Image by Lilia Newman ’27
