Donna Brennan

Partial Transcript: "Actually, I did better in science in high school and my SATs were better in science, but, at the time, that was not something that girls were encouraged to do."

Segment Synopsis: Realizing that her chances as a woman in the sciences were limited at the time, Donna decided to pursue an English degree.

Keywords: English; English Major; Shakespeare; Writing

Subjects: English; English Major; Shakespeare; Writing

Partial Transcript: "Well, my first job out of school--because really in 1967, I have to admit, that the career focus wasn't there."

Segment Synopsis: Donna traces her career path from college, from teaching to working for an insurance company, to even owning her own business.

Keywords: Advice; Business; College; Connections; Corporate Communication; English; English Major; Graduation; High School; High School English; Insurance Company; Interview; Job Advice; Job Interview; Journalism; Networking; Newspaper; Self-Employment; Teaching; Writing

Subjects: Business; College; English Major; Insurance; Interview; Journalism; School; Self-Employment; Writing

Partial Transcript: "Well, I gave it some thought, based on some of your questions."

Segment Synopsis: Donna reflects upon how being an English major helped her to become what she terms a "professional listener."

Keywords: Answers; Client; Discussion; English; English Major; Listening; Literature; Professional Listener; Questions; Reading; Voice; Writing

Subjects: English; English Major; Literature; Writing

Partial Transcript: "The skills I lacked was that I didn't have any business background at all."

Segment Synopsis: Donna talks about having to adapt to the business world, her experience with a TV Guide internship, and her assistance to other female English majors trying to have a career.

Keywords: Advice; Business; English; English Majors; History; History Major; Internship; Job Advice; Job Skills; Job Skills Advice; Skills; TV Guide; Women; Writer; Writing; Writing Sample

Subjects: Business; English; English Major; Internships; Writing

Partial Transcript: "It's a source of joy every day."

Segment Synopsis: Donna defines and discusses the importance of literature.

Keywords: Author; Book; Book Club; Books; Cultural Fiction; Culture; Definition; Dyslexia; Fiction; Genre; Herman Melville; High School; Iceland; India; Liberal Arts; Literature; Maya Angelou; Moby Dick; Mongolia; Non-Fiction; Poetry; Popular Fiction; Science; Scientist; Story; Tibet; Voice; Women's Fiction; Writing

Subjects: Literature

Partial Transcript: "I think it gives you more possibilities than a lot of other more job-focused types of things."

Segment Synopsis: Donna advises English majors to be willing to try as many new things as it takes to find where they fit in as far as the working world.

Keywords: Advice; English; English Major; Job Advice; Public Speaking

Subjects: English; English Major; Public Speech