Meet Our New Intern: Katherine Carroll

One of my earliest memories is the bookshelf my momma created for my sister and me. While it was just a small, white children’s bookcase, it seemed gigantic to me. The possibilities appeared to be endless. I remember sitting in front of the books, pulling them out of their place, and examining each and every one. I was enthralled.

Fast-forward a few years, and my love for books had only gotten stronger. The Scholastic Book Fair was my favorite time of year. I was never one for activities like field day or end-of-the- year festivals; the book fair was where I thrived.

Upon entering college, my respect for literature was as sturdy as ever, but I was convinced that my journey in life was meant for dentistry. For two and a half years, I spent my time studying biology. Any chance I got to incorporate a literature course into my studies, I ran with it. It wasn’t until I was sitting in my three-hour anatomy lab that I realized I was not on the path meant for me. As soon as I got home, I emailed my advisor asking to schedule an appointment to change my major. And the rest was history.

My time studying English Literature at the University of Tennessee was one of the happiest moments of my life. While I’m not sure what took me so long to figure out that I was studying the wrong subject, I’m glad I did. Literature had been staring me right in the face the whole time, from the moment I picked up those books on my childhood bookshelf.

Katherine Carroll is a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee, where she received her bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She has a particularly deep appreciation for Irish literature and works that involve whimsical, lyrical, and natural aspects. In her free time she enjoys going for walks, cooking new recipes, and watching anything related to beauty and skincare.