1976
Magazine editor, writer
Allow me to answer this question by telling a story. When I applied to colleges, I was accepted at both Duke and UNC's School of Journalism. I knew I wanted to write--which would offer a better education to prepare for that career? I visited the editor of my city newspaper, to talk it over. He advised me to go to Duke. "Any newspaper can show you how to write in their style. Get a good liberal arts education." His words were the deciding factor. At Duke I studied not only English lit, but German, Russian, and Greek. The professors were true scholars, and I entered their worlds. Their teaching methods were diverse; in one class, we rarely discussed the literature, but focused instead on the writer's life. Each professor had an intriguing approach. All of the courses I took, from Shakespeare to the Romantics, enabled me to think deeply about words. The power of words. I'm very grateful for the education I received from these brilliant teachers who were passionate about sharing their knowledge and insights.