Colin Christopher: English Instructor
By Jessica Osborne and Andrew Alexander
English instructor Colin Christopher wasn’t always
the connoisseur of literature he is today. Though he did graduate
with a B.A. in English from St. Andrew’s College in
Laurinburg, N.C., Christopher chose to pursue two of his greatest
loves in life — mountain biking and the great outdoors.
Working at R.E.I. outdoor suppliers, Colin sold the outdoor
products he loves for 10 years. He later decided that returning
to school was a wise option and chose Western Carolina University
because of its many outdoor activities. To him, WCU had the
best of both worlds — the great outdoors and an excellent
English program.
Higher learning
Christopher lives with his wife in Asheville, North Carolina.
He has fully adapted to the mountain lifestyle while finding
joy in obtaining a higher degree to further his career in
English.
Because he holds a master’s degree in English, a day
never goes by without the extensive use of English. “It’s
in my work every day,” says Christopher. Christopher
uses his writing as a medium because he prefers to write things
rather than speak. “I’m better on paper than in
person,” Christopher said. “It gives us the chance
to say the things we wish we could have said, rather than
having to think about it thirty minutes later.”
Past and future of a writer
In terms of his experience and educational values gained
at WCU, Christopher gives praise to Dr. Mary Fenton and Dr.
Laura Wright for their extensive efforts to transform him
from a “biker to a serious writer.”
Christopher has high aspirations for the future as well.
Focusing on eco-criticism and post-colonial literature, he
plans on moving to the University of Kansas to work on a Ph.D.
Colin hopes to be a tenured professor in the future, and with
his experiences, he will achieve that goal shortly.
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