Jennifer Patient ‘26

Jennifer Patient ‘26| English major, Communication, Psychology, and Gender Studies minor

With one major and several minors, Jennifer Patient ’26 wasted no time soaking up all that she could on the Hilltop. Patient commutes to campus from Manchester to immerse herself in all things faith, feminism, and literature. She’s been extremely involved during her time at Saint Anselm College and deeply admires her English professors’ commitment to student success.

What brought you to Saint Anselm?

I'm from Manchester, so I've grown up driving past the campus. When I discovered that the College had a strong English program, I decided it would be nice to save some money by commuting while simultaneously going to a good school. I'm really blessed to live close to such a great institution.

Why did you decide to study English?

I really enjoyed English in high school, the writing process, and learning about grammar. I also enjoyed literature and since I was already good at it, I thought it was something I'd want to pursue in college. What sealed the deal for me was my interest in going to law school. I learned that law schools love English majors, so I looked at it as a good stepping stone undergraduate degree. Since then, I’ve actually switched my desired career path.

What do you want to do now?

I'm looking to get my master's in speech and language pathology. I want to be a pediatric speech therapist. English degrees transfer over nicely into that career path.

What are you involved in on campus? 

I run a women's Bible study called Delight through Campus Ministry. It’s a chapter of a national organization and we’re the only one in New Hampshire. We meet every Monday and there’s a leadership team made up of a great group of girls which is awesome. We also do service and social events in addition to our weekly meetings. I’ve also led Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. trips and attended several as a participant and have worked as a social media intern for Campus Ministry as well. 

What are your favorite types of books to read?

Typically, ones that carry a good feminist perspective. I love learning about women in literature. In Victorian Literature for instance, I really enjoyed learning about the Angel in the House theory and the fallen woman concept. I think that's super fascinating. Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti had me in a chokehold. I thought that it was like such a fascinating piece of literature and I'm a Christian too, so I liked the religious element of that work as well. In more modern literature I enjoy learning about the New Woman concept. 

What else have you learned about the intersection of faith and feminism?

In Women in the Ancient Mediterranean World, I learned how the introduction of Christianity to the Mediterranean world really empowered women. The religion gave them an option to live a fulfilling life without marrying or having children. Instead, they could just preach the gospel and live amongst others. They didn’t need to do anything they didn’t want to do. It’s a beautiful thing about Christianity. 

Have you had a positive experience in the English and Communication Department?

It’s been wonderful. I've never had an English professor that I didn't love—they are all wonderful people, super genuine, and incredibly helpful. When I needed help studying for exams, I reached out to three different professors to see if we could meet and prepare for the test and they were all willing to schedule time with me. They made me feel better going into the exam, which was really sweet. I also like that professors carefully choose the texts we read instead of going for the stereotypical books that English majors might study. They are super encouraging and put tons of time and effort into their syllabi. You don’t raise your hand feeling afraid to say the wrong thing, professors will work with any answer and genuinely want to hear what students think. 

Are you reading anything right now?

I recently finished All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr which is a historical fiction novel set during World War II. It switches point-of-view every few pages and has short pages which makes it easier to read when I’m also immersed in complex texts like the Bible, which I read daily. 

Why would you suggest someone study English?

Being an English major has improved my critical thinking skills and ability to extract the most important pieces from texts I read. It’s helped me to summarize things, put ideas into my own words, and even made me an effective researcher. When I came to Saint Anselm, I really dreaded doing research and I didn’t know how to do it in a way that was effective. After all the writing and research I’ve done here, it’s not as scary to me. It’s still not my favorite thing, but it’s made me a better writer. Studying English has also given me a broader worldview. The classes expose you to various time periods and you learn history alongside literature. You read about cultures and different parts of the world that impact writing which gives you a holistic understanding of previous centuries and the present age.

How were your English classes?

First Year Writing with Professor Gary Bouchard totally impacted the way that I craft essays. Every time I'm writing something, I feel like he’s on my shoulder saying, “don’t say that—expand on this more!” I was already a good writer when I came to the Hilltop, so I arrogantly thought, “I don't need to take this class, I already know how to write,” but all the things that Professor Bouchard talked about changed my perspective on what it means to write a strong essay which was very foundational.  I also enjoyed Introduction to Literary Studies, which is another required English class, but I learned about symbolism, how to read poetry, and tons of basics. The professors who teach that course are amazing. I also loved 20^th Century American Literature. 

What about classes for your minors?

Mediated Communication with Professor Jonathan Lupo was so much fun. We talked about books, movies, TV series, and advertising. I feel like I could have double majored in marketing because I love learning about the promotional side of things. Professor Lupo is hilarious and has such great sarcastic humor. I wound up as a Gender Studies minor because I just so happened to take a lot of feminist courses. 

Why would you suggest taking non-major courses?

Saint Anselm offers a lot of opportunities to explore things outside of your major and you have nothing to lose by taking a course outside of your core requirements. College is a time where you develop at such a fast pace, so it’s a great time to expose yourself to something new. If you’re paying for a degree, need credits, and have a spot in your schedule—just go for it!