Dartmouth’s Erin Inglis was anxious about making friends, especially since her first year was online. In her tutorial group she found both great minds and lifelong friends, including Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and Voltaire, which led to a combined honours in Early Modern Studies and English.
What drew you to King’s originally?
I came to the King’s open house after hearing about the Foundation Year Program (FYP), and that event really solidified my decision to come here. Unlike most of the other schools I toured, King’s really emphasized the community aspect of its academic programs, which was something that appealed to me.
What program are you graduating from, and what inspired you to pursue that program?
I’m graduating with a combined honours in early modern studies and English. I really struggled with the ancient and medieval philosophy we read in FYP, but everything started making a lot more sense to me once we hit the early modern period (excluding Descartes, I suppose, which I still wasn’t ready for!). Being able to read Hobbes and Locke and Rousseau and not only understand what they were saying but recognize the way their words have shaped our political and pedagogical systems was so cool to me. My absolute favourite text was Voltaire’s Candide, though, and that’s why I decided to pursue English as a second subject.
Was there a course, professor, reading requirement or experience that has had a lasting impact on you?
I took Dr. Krista Kesselring’s course on British Legal History in my second year, and since then, pretty much every paper I’ve written has been in some way related to what I learned in that class. More than sparking my interest in the subject matter, though, Dr. Kesselring was the first professor who taught me how to do really effective research, and she showed me several resources that have been incredibly helpful throughout my degree. There are so many professors at King’s and Dalhousie who have made a lasting impact on me, though! I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Simon Kow, who taught some of my all-time favourite classes, helped me and the rest of the Early Modern Studies Society a ton, and advised my thesis this year. I am also very grateful to Dr. Kathy Cawsey, whose guidance helped me grow as a writer, academic and person. She also showed me how incredibly cool medieval literature is!
What’s your favourite snack for late night study sessions?
Iced coffee has become my lifeblood while writing my thesis. I especially like STōK’s Cold Brew, and I have this milk frother to make foam for my midnight coffees. Delicious!
What will you miss most?
I feel like I’ve found a really great community here at King’s, especially these past couple of years. And while I know that the friendships and connections I’ve made won’t disappear once I’ve crossed the stage, it will be difficult to move on now that I’ve gotten so comfortable here!
What’s one thing from your time at King’s that you’re especially proud of?
This year I had the opportunity to make a booklet celebrating the Early Modern Studies Program’s 25th anniversary, which involved collecting stories and pictures from professors, students and alumni. I got to learn so much about the history of EMSP and King’s, and I’m genuinely proud of the final product! It was also great to hear from alumni about the impact that EMSP has had on their lives, whether they ended up pursuing academia or different careers.
Thinking back to who you were when you received your acceptance letter, what would you tell her?
I would tell 18-year-old Erin not to worry so much about making new friends! I remember being very anxious that I wouldn’t be able to meet anyone at King’s, especially during my first year which was completely online, but I was incredibly fortunate to be put into a tutorial with several people who have since become my closest friends.
As Encaenia approaches, do you have any insights you’d like to share for incoming students?
I would encourage any new King’s students to get involved with a society! I was hesitant to participate in any clubs in my first couple years at King’s (even after classes returned to being taught in-person) but becoming a member of the Early Modern Studies Society has been so rewarding that I wish I had joined sooner. Working with the EMSS has been a great learning experience and an opportunity to connect with other people in my degree.
Where do you hope your degree takes you next?
I would really like to travel a little now that I know more about the world. There are so many libraries, museums and galleries I’d like to visit in person, after only ever seeing them on screens and studying them in books. I am also very excited to continue my research during my graduate studies!
