English+ and Native American Literature

I was able to attend two very interesting sessions of BYU's 2018 English Symposium. I started out with stories from the English+ programs on Thursday and then learned about Native American culture on Friday.
In the session called "My English+ Stories", the focus was mainly on the professional competencies gained from the humanities majors.  There were eight speakers who each showed how their experience in the Humanities has added to their communication abilities, cultural awareness, and work ethics. My personal favorite--and the most unique the experiences--was shared by Shae Russell. He owns a start-up company named "Velcs" and fighting to make this company more than just another place to buy shoes. He donates to local charities and spotlights disabled children whose lives could improve by owning a pair of velcro shoes. Shae Russell shared how the experience has helped him to understand business and aided him in his communication skills. In a reader-response view, the speech was very engaging. Through the use of visuals and argumentative language, I was convinced to support this small start-up company.

The second session I attended was called "Native American Literature". On essay, in particular, caught my attention. It was given by Carly Callister and focused on Native American women and how they responded to the attempts to force the Natives from their lands. I analyzed this essay from a feminist view. Carly pointed out how strong the women were multiple times in her essay. She made it a point to show how the women stood up valiantly for what they believed in--even if it meant going against what their white husbands were telling them to do. She portrayed these women as defenders of their land and people. It was very interesting to listen to the essay and to hear about the strength of the Native American women.

Overall, the essays that I heard at the symposium were very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the speeches and it was an eye-opening experience.