WKU News

Olivia Alsup is a senior from Franklin, Kentucky, earning a degree in English. While she has always been passionate about English, she initially had a different career in mind when she graduated from high school.

“Originally, I was on the Early Childhood Education pathway at my high school,” says Alsup. “After graduating, I took a year off and worked as a part-time teacher’s assistant at the WKU Child Care Center in Jones Jagger Hall.”

She explains that while she loved working with the children, ages ranging from six weeks to two years old, she desired to pursue a degree in English. In Fall 2019, she enrolled in the program and never looked back. One of her favorite English classes that she took during her time on the Hill is ENGL 468: Sexual and Gender Fluidity in Early Modern English Literature with Dr. Gillian Knoll.

“At times, classes can feel isolating and independent outside of face-to-face discussions, so I found the collaborative Google Site projects in this class to be very fulfilling,” says Alsup. “I also discovered the play, Gallathea by: John Lyly, while taking this class. It has become one of my favorite texts.”

Alsup also served as the PCAL Communications Intern for the Spring 2022 semester. During her internship, she coordinated and wrote #PeopleofWKU stories, assisted with Dean’s Office clerical duties, and helped revive the PCAL newsletter. She loved the synergistic quality of the internship and is thankful for the experience that she gained before graduation.

When asked about advice she would give to incoming PCAL students, Alsup says getting involved is the best way to apply what you have learned in the classroom to the real world.

“If you have the privilege to get involved, I recommend it. I feel like I’ve learned so many skills from putting myself out there. My PCAL internship alone has taught me how to adapt to my environment and get out of my comfort zone. If I had not applied to this internship, I would have never had the confidence or the skills to do what I plan to do in the future. In addition to internships, just attending events makes you feel welcome and a part of the PCAL community.”

When she’s not reading or writing for her classes or internship, Alsup loves watching the sitcom, New Girl. “It’s such a comfort show for me. You can turn it on in the background of anything and be completely happy.”

After graduation, Alsup will be assisting the Georgia Tech College of Computing’s summer camp program for 3^rd through 12^th graders this summer. She plans to find a full-time job in editing or copywriting and hopes to start the Library and Information Science master’s program at the University of Maryland in Fall 2023.