Taryn Pinder, Essay Contest Winner in the Second-Year Category, 2023-2024
Taryn Pinder is a third-year student majoring in English and minoring in Studies of Women and Gender (SWAG) and Indigenous Studies. Since a young age, Taryn has used reading as a way to learn about the world and a form of escapism; she was “drawn into the magic and wisdom reading can provide.” So, picking English as a major seemed like a natural choice. Once in the English Department, she immediately responded to Prof. Sarah Crover’s 200-level seminar on villains and heroes, how these roles have changed over time, and the ambiguity that can arise with certain “heroes,” leading to Taryn’s prize-winning essay on the role of trickster figures in two works of contemporary fiction. Reading the seminar novels, Taryn found herself thinking that “while Coyote and Lyra [the two protagonists] may use their trickster abilities differently, they both use the act of storytelling to undermine suppressive powers. Each character, in their own way, reminded me that I am not as stuck within my narrative as a may feel, and maybe all I need to do is change the story.” Other works of fiction that have captured Taryn’s attention lately include Station Eleven (a TV show and a novel, by Emily St John Mandel), for a dose of the post-apocalypse mixed with Shakespeare, as well as Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers and the epic (read: lengthy, but worth it!) fantasy, The Priory of the Orange Tree. To new students, Taryn suggests writing about “something you enjoy, [because] it truly comes across in your writing. Try to find passion in your topic and your essay with come easily. If you’re feeling stuck, don’t be afraid to sit down with your professor. They often have advice and can provide support when things feel overwhelming. Sarah was always there to guide me, and this essay wouldn’t be what it is without her.”