May 2024
Editor’s Note _____________________________________ 3
Echoes of the Conejo – Massimo C. Bianco_____________5
Why I Write – Ernst F. Tonsing_______________________6
Motherly Wisdom – Israel Lozano _____________________ 8
A Unique Discovery – Jazmine Smith ___________________10
Do You Remember – Sherilyn Rudney __________________ 14
Embracing Cultural Exploration – Nadia Fahmy ___________19
In the Forest & Against the Sea – E.V. Mae ______________ 21
Familiarity in Discomfort – Renée Fournier ______________25
The Wandering Knight – William Rivera ________________26
A Year’s Worth of D&D – Madison Ferdman_____________34
About the Authors & Acknowledgements_______________ 35
Call for Submission
Hello CLU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and affiliates! My name is Cori Pizano and I am a senior English major graduating this spring. It is my pleasure to announce a call for submissions inviting reflection on “The UnAcademic Journey.” Your work will be part of the inaugural issue of the Gumby Writing Project in collaboration with the Writing Center, open to all CLU community members.
Throughout our academic careers, we are often asked to reflect on the educational triumphs and challenges that have led us to where we are today. Personally, my college journey has been filled with unexpected opportunities, such as working in the Writing Center and studying in the Honors Program, but there is more to me than my academic achievements—for example, my queer and mixed race identities have shaped every aspect of my life. In this publication, I want to hear about who you are and what has impacted your own journeys: your hobbies, life experiences, identities, and anything else that has complemented (or maybe complicated) your academic experience.
Whatever your role is here at Cal Lutheran, this is a place for exploration, learning, and self-discovery. Through writing, you have the opportunity to reflect on your experiences, give back to the community, and share your insights with others for years to come. As a graduating senior, this project is my way of giving something back to the brilliant writing community that I have had the honor of working with over the years.
I invite you to submit any original work that explores your own UnAcademic Journey. Do you have a hidden talent that none of your peers would guess? Are you a first-generation student with an inspiring family story? Do you have a passion for fitness that keeps you motivated through tough times? Whether you want to share a funny anecdote, a moving personal reflection, or a creative take on this theme, you are welcome to submit:
- Personal essays
- Narratives
- Poetry
- Short stories
- Think pieces
How to Submit:
- Please upload your submissions to this Google Form and fill out all required info.
- Multiple submissions are allowed and may be uploaded at the same time.
- Submissions should be formatted as a Word document or PDF.
- Prose submissions (essays, stories, etc.) should be between 500 and 1,500 words, and poetry submissions should be no longer than 2 pages double spaced.
- The deadline for submissions is now April 14th. We will begin reviewing submissions soon after, and Cori will contact you with more information about the editing process.
- Questions? Email me at cpizano@callutheran.edu!
Thank you for considering participating in this project!