I did my undergrad at the University of Chicago, where I majored in English and Spanish. I'm now in my first year in the English PhD program at Duke. In addition to my scholarly work, poetry continues to be a major component of my life and one of my greatest, oldest loves. Reading/performing is just as important to me as writing, and I enjoy listening to other poets. I particularly like Spoken Word open mics--the way that poetry is powerfully embodied in the poet, the reactions and interjections of the audience, and the range in age you'll find there. I still have a long way to go as a poet (and I'm sure there will always be room for evolvement and improvement) so I sincerely appreciate constructive feedback. I explore many different themes in my poetry, including family, mental illness, gender, sexuality (including kink), and trauma.