Annaleese Jochems (Writing for the Page, 2016)
One thing that’s still marvellous to me is how much smarter and more daring I am when I’m able to think in collaboration with other people.
Annaleese writes: 'To do the MA is to join a small community committed to thinking and imagining. One thing that’s still marvellous to me is how much smarter and more daring I am when I’m able to think in collaboration with other people. I’m cleverer when people ask me questions, and I’m more original when there are people to answer questions of my own.
'Give your classmates the benefit of every good thought you have, and be ready for everything they’ll give you back. If you start feeling competitive, insecure, doomed, or dumb, find someone to ask for a hug because at some time during the year they’ll need one too. This is your chance to do something you could never do alone.'
Bio: Annaleese has studied at both the IIML and MIT. Her novel Baby (Te Herenga Waka University Press, 2017), won the Hubert Church Best First Book Award.
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