Caroline Driscol

BA (Hons) Contemporary English Studies (Graduated in 2013)

I graduated with a BA (Honours) in Contemporary English Studies in 2013. Now I'm doing my PhD in Comparative Literature in the University of South Carolina, with a full scholarship.

While studying English at Lingnan, I was exposed to a broad-based curriculum with a focus on teaching undergraduate students. The close teacher-student relationships and mentorships were phenomenal due to the smaller class size. It gave me plenty of opportunities for critical thinking, since smaller classes enabled me to hear different perspectives and bounce ideas off of one another in class and outside class.

I was particularly drawn to the Department's approach to teaching contemporary literature because the social backdrop is relatable and the texts come in a great variety of genres. Studying English at Lingnan offered me fundamental and crucial insights into literary studies, not only in the context of the West, but also through representative contemporary fiction and non-fiction written by, for example, Asian writers in English.

Looking back, if it weren't for all the opportunities Lingnan and the Department of English gave me, I wouldn't be where I am today.