Senior Farewells: Anais Shelley

How can one simply jot down two years? My time at Troy University is coming to a rapid close, and I just have so much to say. When I arrived here as a transfer student from Wallace Community College, I never expected what this place and the people in it would mean to me.

As a student in the English department, I have had the unique honor of coming to know some of the hardest working, supportive, encouraging faculty in all of our school. Thanks to these professors who believed in me in moments I could not believe in myself, I spent the last two years doing things I never thought possible.

I have attended a long list of research events, held my own international literary conference and taken on new leadership positions. While I am proud of these accomplishments, that is not my chief feeling when I think of the last two years. Rather, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and in awe of the generosity of my department, my college and my university.

Alongside my wonderful professors, I also met my best friend Maddie in our first semester as Troy students. Together we have tackled six research conferences, nonstop reading and writing, navigating the college experience and working towards a future full of big dreams. I am so thankful that this place brought me the funniest, smartest and coolest best friend around.

Of course, my time here has been full of so many friends, especially from Sigma Tau Delta, the English honors society, and the Creative Writing Guild. I have served as president of these two organizations this year which is how I have met some of the most incredible folks.

Sigma Tau Delta has enabled me to amplify literature across campus with English majors of varying concentrations while the Guild is a space where I have found a writing community.

To all of the people in both of these groups: thank you so much for welcoming me first as a friend, then as a member and finally as a leader. It has been the time of my life.

Last spring, I learned the Tropolitan was in need of a book reviewer. I threw my name in the hat, which was possibly the best decision I have made here. The folks who write, edit and supervise the Tropolitan turn every meeting into a party and make every contributor feel like a front-page hero. I am so incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to count myself among them.

I could say a lot more about my time at Troy University, but I am already beginning to ramble. I guess what I will say in parting is this: thank you all so much for giving the time of day to an English major from Danzey, Alabama. I am excited to announce that I have accepted an offer from the University of Alabama to study for my M.A. in literature in the fall. While I am looking forward to the future, I will not soon lose sight of Troy University– the place and the people who have helped make all my once far-seeming goals into realities.