Graduating Class: Double Major'26

Sabine Chu

Double Major: Mathematics (18) and Literature (21L)

What are your plans after graduation plans?

Teach For America in New York City

Was there a favorite book or topic that you studied with Literature that you would recommend?
T. S. Eliot! Both in 21L.487 (Modern Poetry) and 21L.512 (American Authors, which became a course focused exclusively on his work).

What was your favorite book, film, or thesis, paper title, etc. from out of Literature?
I think the most eye-catching title was “50 Things Every AI Working with Humans Should Know” by Ken Liu from 21L.707 (AI and the Literature of Consciousness).

What advice would you give a future Literature Major? What did you wish you knew before your journey?
Well, I didn’t officially become a Literature major until my last semester, so I guess the first piece of advice I would give is start earlier than me! And to start your assignments, especially your thesis, earlier than me as well. Other than that…

For both macro- and micro-planning, TALK TO FAITH (!!!!!) and your advisor. Also email professors before the start of the semester to get syllabuses, or at least an idea of the main texts covered. Try to take a wide variety of classes — I only took fiction and poetry classes, which I loved, but I definitely wish I had delved into drama, film, and creative nonfiction.

Write about what genuinely interests you because your teachers will give you a lot more leeway than you think. Feel free to incorporate your seemingly non-literary expertise into your studies! And try out creative writing at least once.

Lastly, go to Lit Tea whenever you can 🙂

Fun Fact: What’s your favorite animal? Why and how does it relate to literature or your work?
My two favorite animals are zebras (because, like a lot of my favorite poems, they’re beautifully patterned and have a fun-to-say name) and geese (because, like a lot of my favorite novels, they’re chunky and intense).

Read Sabine’s SHASS profile here!