On Wednesday, April 9, UT Martin hosted an engaging and lively writers conference. I must give a huge shoutout to Dr. Richard Garlitz and Dr. Renee LaFleur for putting it all together. The energy was great as students and faculty came together for a day filled with learning and sharing in such a welcoming environment. They held the conference in the Paul Meek Library and the Center for Women and Gender Equality. Honestly, it was the perfect spot—cozy yet inspiring.
One of the main highlights of the day was definitely the spotlight on UT Martin’s Siena travel study students. These folks were impressive! They put together some amazing PowerPoint presentations that tackled a variety of intriguing topics—from the blue crab problem in Italy, which I found super interesting, to the fascinating economic aspects of wine production. They did not just share dry statistics; they really brought their experiences to life with personal stories from their travels.
Hearing their anecdotes made everything so much more relatable and fun, and I could tell everyone in the room was really engaged. The room was buzzing with excitement as faculty and students chimed in with their questions and thoughts during the presentations. It was not just a one-way street; it felt like a dynamic conversation where everyone was learning from each other. There was this great sense of community—everyone was genuinely interested in the topics being discussed, and it felt like a big celebration of creativity and knowledge.
I really loved how the whole event showcased the amazing work happening in our academic community. It gave us all a chance to share our insights and gain new perspectives from our peers.
By the end of the day, I was feeling so inspired and hopeful. It made me even more excited about my upcoming trip to Italy. I can only hope to do something just as cool with my own research and bring back stories that capture the essence of my experiences, just like those students did. Overall, it was such a memorable day, and I cannot wait for the next conference!
