"Iowa is one of the best public universities for my desired major, immediately setting it apart from any other places I might have been looking at in New York. The University of Iowa gave me the chance to be the best version of myself, and so far, that version has constantly been succeeding."
Elana is a natural storyteller, and she quickly realized that she wants to be part of a world where stories are made. She hopes to one day be part of the publishing industry where she can uplift BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other marginalized voices in an industry that has historically silenced them.
Elana chose Iowa originally for the Nursing Program, but she quickly switched to the English and Creative Writing Program. Most people don't know, but Iowa is ranked number two in the country for the best creative writing programs, and when Elana knew she was going to switch her major, she knew she was already in the right place to do it.
Currently, she's the managing editor for Earthwords magazine and a blogger for the Experience Iowa blogging site. When she's not doing tours as a tour guide, she's also a panelist for the English Department, in which she acts as a spokesperson for the program's student body and all it has to offer.
There are lots of memorable experiences, but a current one for Elana is moving into her first apartment off-campus. It's a whole new level of adulting that she's learning one step at a time.
