Rachel's Senior Reading

Eleven years ago (let's not even go into how long ago that was), I donned a red shirt and black pants, and I stood on the stage of the Baker Recital Hall alongside my fellow graduating English and writing majors to participate in the senior reading.

I was terrified.

I read an essay I'd written about a visit to a clinic...one of my "this-would-only-happen-to-Bekah" experiences.

Last night I donned a red shirt and black pants (purely coincidental, I assure you), found a seat in the back of the Globe Theater, and observed my first senior reading since my own. The reason I went? Our student worker and my dear, dear friend, Miss Rachel Ashley, secured a spot in the reading. (When I graduated, all the seniors read. Now the major is big enough that you have to be selected to read. I was SO proud of Rachel for making the cut!)

I'd like to say it's much more cutting edge than when I read! Power Point and everything! Rachel was introduced by a fellow student. (You'll notice the reading is kind of like church. Participants in the front row, nobody in the middle, and everyone else, including yours truly, in the back.)

Rachel read a paper she'd written for a class. It was a literary analysis on William Faulkner's book As I Lay Dying. I had significant concerns about my ability to understand her paper. I'm creative, but I'm not always very smart. This point can be punctuated by telling you I just misspelled "very."

I was so proud of her. She read with poise and grace (and I understood what she said!). In this picture, you can also see Dr. Mary Brown, who was also a professor when I went through the program. She was a very tough professor...but I loved the way she taught and took her classes every chance I got.

At the end of her reading, she had to answer a faculty response. Hers came from Dr. Buck, who was also one of my professors. I remember doing the response part of my reading - it completely stressed me out! But Rachel was (again) very poised and she answered well.

Oh there's so much I want to say about this sweet girl, but I'll save some for graduation time. Let me just say (for now) she is a blessing to my life. I am so very proud of the person she is - and the writer she is -and continues to become. She's beautiful and she's also a beautiful writer.

Rachel, thank you for inviting me to come to your reading. I would not have wanted to be anywhere else last night than in that seat being proud of YOU!