Hi, I am Zoie Gookstetter, a graduate from the University of Washington, where I majored in English Literature and minored in Business.

Why I chose to major in English stems back to when I was in elementary school, and my teachers started to notice that I was falling behind in reading and writing compared to my peers. It was then that we found out that I have dyslexia. After finding this out, I remember constently being pulled aside to do one-on-one work with my teachers. And even being taken out of the classroom to work individually and also in groups with other students alongside talented educators. It was thanks to my teachers and other educators that I was able to learn more about myself and how to successfully navigate education and the world with dyslexia. And it wasn't an easy process because at first I resented reading and writing, but as time went on and I finally picked up a book, not because I had to, but because I wanted to, it was then that I began to fall in love with reading. 

So, when it came to deciding what I wanted to major in I knew I wanted it to be English because through my experiences, I saw that being a reader and in turn an English major is more than reading books and writing about them. It's about seeing yourself in a story, seeing and learning about others, understanding the world around you, and so much more. Reading and writing are a huge part of my life, and it's because of them that I am who I am today! I am more empathetic, creative, hardworking, resilient, and adaptable thanks to my journey with reading and my degree!