Kamala is in her final year in the English Honors Program, currently writing her thesis on Klara and the Sun’s exploration of spirituality through the lens of cultural ecology. 

What made you pursue English as a major?

I grew up writing poetry with my mom and reading books every night. It was just kind of always a part of my life. Pursuing it academically came in my second year of college. I took a British literature course where we delved into poetry that was specifically related to the environment and the relationship people have with God and nature. I saw myself being able to pursue that for a long time. It was the final push I needed to get into these studies. 

What’s the most fulfilling part of your major?

The most fulfilling part of my major really is the community. There are so many avenues you can take when you’re an English major, so many different disciplines, even, with media, with literature, with poetry. I like how diverse it is. Everyone has different interests. When you take courses, even if they all range, they come back to this center, where it’s simply learning from one another. I find that really necessary to have. 

How did you hear about the English Honors Program? Why did you enroll in it?

I first heard about the English Honors Program before I enrolled or even applied to Stony Brook. I am a transfer from Suffolk County Community College, so when I was looking to transfer to get my Bachelor’s degree, I saw the English Honors Program. At the time, I thought you had to be a sophomore to enroll, so I didn’t expect to be nominated for the program. I’m very glad that they changed their enrollment standard, and I was able to come into the program. It’s been a really rewarding experience. The community, again, is wonderful. I have formed some really close relationships with a lot of other students in the program. It’s nice to be able to go through this process with other people. Being in the research practicum has been a whole new experience in research and writing that I haven’t had before. 

Tell me about your Original Thesis; What led you to this topic? Who’s mentoring you?

My thesis surrounds the novel Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. I originally read the novel for my EGL 301 class with Dr. Andrew Fletcher. We were discussing the process of what creates a human, what makes a human a human. Can you make a human? What exactly is human nature, and why? One of the biggest parts that stood out to me was the relationship Klara forms with the environment and the sun, the divine energy that surrounds this relationship of sacrifice and bonds, and love. My topic is really exploring how one entity, human or otherwise, forms a relationship with the environment. How does that inform their relationship to divinity, to spirituality? Why is that important? My mentor is going to be Dr. Justin Johnston. who, you know, loves Klara and the Sun as much as I do, and I am excited for the conversations that we’re going to have surrounding the novel.

How has the English Honors Program helped you? Do you have a favorite memory or experience? 

The English Honors Program has definitely made me more capable of understanding theories. Especially when I took EGL 492 with Dr. Benedict Robinson. The whole course surrounded all of these different theorists coming together to talk in this broader scope of what was happening in the fields surrounding fictionality. What is fiction, and where is fiction? Why do we have fiction? I think being able to critically look at all of these questions through a lens where so many people have such rich areas of discussion opened up my mind and allowed me to think about things in a different way.

Are you involved in any extracurriculars/jobs/internships at SBU? 

Currently, I am a writing TA for WRT 102 with Dr. Sara Santos, which is the larger honors section, so it’s been an extremely rewarding experience to be able to take part in helping a large number of students learn how to write or what writing is. It goes hand in hand with my job as a writing tutor at the Writing Center on campus, which I absolutely love. Talking to people about what they’re working on and connecting with people that I normally wouldn’t connect with, since all disciplines and students come to the writing center, is definitely my favorite part.

What advice would you give to current English majors at SBU who are interested in the Honors Program?

Go for it. I’m actually extending my time at Stony Brook to write the thesis, because I think the thesis is a great opportunity.  Having that experience writing, researching, and culminating an original idea and seeing it come to fruition has already been such a good experience. You’re essentially developing something of your own making. Again, the community that you form with the other students who are also going through this very unique track is so rewarding. I can’t think of any reason to say why you shouldn’t do it. Along the way, you’ll become close with some amazing faculty members and create close mentorships.  If you plan to continue on to graduate school or start working right away, it’s a wonderful project to have accomplished. It could only help you.

On Thursday, October 23, the Poetry Center filled with students and faculty alike to spend an evening with Ross Barkan, a renowned author, journalist, political commentator, and 2011 Stony Brook graduate. From five to six, Barkan humorously spoke of his time at Stony Brook and his post-graduate career. The night concluded with a Q&A session, where students had the opportunity to gain insight on how their future professions may align with those of Barkan’s. Here’s a rundown: 

Barkan grew up in Brooklyn and “was never one to go to sleepaway camp.” Attending a Long Island college exposed Barkan to a new landscape. This experience is one Barkan regards as personally transformative as it exposed him to a new everyday culture, a new routine offering new experiences. Many of his experiences are sure to have overlapped with many of ours. For instance, Barkan majored in English Education, initially hoping to be a teacher. He dormed in Tabler, Roosevelt, and West apartments. He wrote a book that never saw the light of day. He took journalism classes, but not enough to fulfill the major. He wrote for the SBU Press. Perhaps most importantly, Barkan grew into himself at SBU. 

After graduating SBU, Barkan went on to earn his Master’s from NYU for teaching. Confronted with sparse teaching opportunities and an ever-growing love for writing, Barkan went into journalism, working as a staff reporter at the Queens Tribune. He covered New York City and national politics for the New York Observer from 2013-2016, but resigned over moral dilemmas. Now a freelance columnist, Barkan has contributed to The Washington Post, The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Esquire, GQ, and many other notable publications. Since 2023, he has been a routine reporter for New York Magazine’s Intelligencer, a column primarily dedicated to political news.  

In 2018, Barkan published his first book, Demolition Night, a dystopian novel set in an America where citizens are controlled by megacorporations. He has since put out five more novels and has another, Colossus, set to come out next year. Speaking of his experience with publications, Barkan shared “I’ve worked with very tiny publishers, I’ve worked with very large publishers, I’ve worked with what I would call medium publishers,” and he’s happy to say he has had positive experiences with all of them. 

For the past five years, Barkan has maintained a Substack. Today, that Substack has 43k+ subscribers. He refers to the work on his Substack as “his baby.” He is the Editor-in-Chief of The Metropolitan Review, a Substack-based literary magazine, and the founder of Political Currents, a Substack-based weekly newsletter covering politics. He encourages students to start their own Substacks as soon as possible. 

At only 36 years old, Barkan has achieved a lot. His talk was incredibly insightful, acting as a true guiding force for students who hope to one day enjoy a career path similar to his own. However, despite what professional occupation one might wish to pursue, this piece of Barkan’s advice is universal: “If you don’t care about it, don’t do it.” We are incredibly appreciative of Barkan’s talk, and incredibly proud of his accomplishments. If he ever graces us with his presence again, please make it a point to come out and listen. He has a lot to say, a lot worth hearing. 

Erin Young is an incredibly enthusiastic English major who is currently finishing up her last semester at Stony Brook. Although she is set to earn her Bachelor’s in only a few months, her passionate attitude towards her area of study has not dwindled. Rather, her love for language arts has only grown stronger. Below, she shares the details of her devotion to literature. 

What’s your favorite area of study/topic within your major, and why? 

I would have to say postcolonial literature or speculative fiction! There’s something about fantasy worlds mingled with realism that is so beautiful to me. Reading materials like this often help me be more imaginative when viewing the world around me. 

What do you wish to do with your degree, and why? 

I would love to teach or work in publishing, I find both to be very rewarding! Unfortunately, I came to Stony Brook too late to complete the teacher prep program, but I’ve been considering looking into alternative ways to eventually achieve a similar outcome, such as pursuing a Master’s in Education! 

What made you pursue English as a major? What’s the most fulfilling part of your major?  

Well, I’ve always loved English as a teenager, and I love to read and critically analyze literature! I would say that I love to work with great and passionate people, while doing something I genuinely love. Also, while I’ve heard many people in other majors have lost the love they have for their area of study, I would say that I’ve never experienced that! 

What has been your favorite class that you have taken so far? 

I would have to say Professor Eberle’s class on 20th Century Literature, which is EGL 224. Most of what I know about postcolonial literature has been learned from that class! I always felt so engaged in discussion, even when the texts were occasionally dry. I think it’s incredibly important to look at how colonialism has impacted (and still impacts) so many people across the globe, and this class does a great job with exploring how harmful and damaging it has been and is. 

What’s been the most interesting thing you have learned either from any of your classes or your time as an English major? 

My EGL classes have taught me a lot about both personal histories and world histories. I always love when other students and professors share their individual experiences with the class, whether they involve culture, interests, music, etc.. I love to read about the mingling of cultures and people, and I would say that this major really helps highlight those lessons! As for what I’ve learned the most, I would say thorough and close reading techniques, especially in regards to critical thinking! I learned how to analyze text deeply and thoughtfully, and how impactful close reading can be. 

What advice would you give to students who are interested in becoming an English major? 

Remember: the faculty will support you! Every professor in this department wants the best for their students, and they’ll always be incredibly respectful and inclusive! While the courses might require a lot of reading, try to extract as much enjoyment from them as possible. I know it can seem daunting, but you need to take a deep breath and realize that all you need to do is take it step by step, and passage by passage. Make sure you take regular breaks from your screens, and don’t forget that you can always step away from an essay to get a better approach! Good luck, you’ll do great!