In the English department, we professors like to say, “Students can do anything with an English major.” What we mean is that an English major equips a person with skills transferable to almost any career, and almost any path. Our 2025 graduates prove the point.  

This spring, our six graduating English majors prepare to scatter across Texas and the globe to live out callings to teach, preach, write, and serve, and we couldn’t be prouder. Meet our talented group of majors, each with a unique path to and through the English department at Southwestern Adventist University: 

Cesar Gutierrez, senior class president and Writing Emphasis major, discovered his love of reading at an early age and soon decided he would like to become the creator of books himself. Later, during his time at Southwestern, he discovered Jesus in his religion classes and spiritual campus activities, and has since dedicated himself to a life of service, wherever he can be of use. In his spare time, Cesar writes novels, one of which he is preparing for publication. Over four years, Cesar has become almost iconic (legendary?) on campus for his infectious enthusiasm, bright smile, and ubiquitous presence at campus events. A “life of writing” via freelance work and graduate school, is what he plans to pursue after he spends a year of service in Korea, where he will teach English. Cesar inspires us all (both students and professors) to shine brightly for Christ, doing whatever it is we do with gusto! 

Reese Gallant, an honors student and the senior class vice president, has always had a talent for writing, from the time her elementary class gave her a standing ovation for a poem about a bad hair day. Life interrupted with an extremely bad hair season when she was struck with cancer in her teen years; however, she overcame her first battle with brain cancer, and has gone on to thrive in the English department, using her painful story as fuel for writing and an opportunity to share God’s redemptive work in her life. Her writing again wowed her classmates in 2023 when she shared a portion of her 25-page testimony (written for her Life Writing course) at departmental vespers. Reese plans to study rhetoric and composition and creative writing at La Sierra University next year, with the goal of eventually becoming an English professor. While she’s at it, I have no doubt her writing will continue to bring audiences to laughter, tears, and appreciation for God’s gift of beautiful language. 

Eden Samaniego, a triple major (English along with History and Theology), is not a typical college student. A precocious scholar, he translates chapters of the Bible from its original Hebrew in his spare time. He reads hours every day above and beyond the required readings for school, stopping only to take in sunsets (no social media) and take part in meaningful social activities like the University Singers. During his undergraduate studies, Eden worked as an intern pastor at the Arlington and Keene Seventh-day Adventist churches. In addition, he worked as a writing tutor, a tutor of biblical languages, and a teaching assistant for the Religion department. In fall 2025, he will begin an MLitt in Biblical Languages and Literature at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, followed by a PhD in Hebrew Bible.  He hopes to become a scholar and teacher in the field of biblical studies, with the goal of conducting research and teaching at the university level. I hope Eden’s next professors are ready for him; he is known for asking hard, and frequently unanswerable, questions! 

Journey O’Neal, English with Secondary Education, comes from a family of teachers. It wasn’t inevitable that she would become a teacher, however. Frequent moving around in her childhood (for her parents’ teaching jobs) made her second-guess that path. It was only after repeated encounters with a string of life-changing educators that she set her sights on a similar journey (pun intended). An avid reader of wholesome romance novels (“good for teaching how to be in healthy relationships,” she says), Journey is passionate about using her teaching platform to help students gain a voice, advocate for themselves, and advocate for others. For three years, Journey has been using her teaching skills to empower student writers in our campus writing center. She has apparently left her mark on her clients. In one client’s words: “Journey is an angel and an excellent help. Her talent in spelling and forming well written paragraphs and sentences is amazing! Loved her help and appreciated the kindness as well.” Beautiful inside and out, Journey will be a blessing to her future classroom. We have no doubt she will be a life-changer as well! 

Gadiel Soto-Maldonado, a Writing Emphasis major and aspiring novelist, is known for being the quiet one in class, until he opens his mouth and speaks profound things. Whereas Gadiel rarely displays his thoughts verbally, in his writing, his dedication to his faith, as well as his love of the writing craft, comes through loud and clear. An avid reader of fantasy, as well as a dedicated member of the SDA Church, Gadiel seeks to bridge the gap between imaginative and devotional literature through his innovative writing style. Recently, during a conference with him, I asked Gadiel why he wanted to write. His answer: “There’s nothing I’d rather do; it’s what I can’t wait to do every day, and it’s what makes the hours fly by without me even realizing it.” Gadiel’s words confirmed something I discovered years ago as I sought to publicly express my own writing gift: God has a calling for each of us, and it often can be discerned through heeding the desires we carry in our hearts–if and when those hearts are surrendered to God. As with Reese’s writing, I can see God moving in a special way through Gadiel’s talents. Our department can’t wait to see what new literatures, and what new worlds, he will create!  

Anthony Caballero, a business major turned English major, Writing Emphasis, came to us late–during the second semester of his junior year. However, Tony has proven again that English can be the right fit for unlikely candidates: in his case, English was the antidote to a major that just felt wrong. Tony didn’t always know it, but he craved the rich round-table discussions fostered in our literature classes; the interactive writing workshops in our composition classes; and the personal, creative, and scholarly explorations we invite in blended writing assignments across our curriculum. Although Tony is still figuring out his next move, he knows he wants to explore the human mind–and the human condition–through the avenues of reading, writing, and speaking. An award-winning campus library worker, as well as a knowledgeable and dependable writing tutor, Tony is wisely taking a year off from academics to work, think, and enjoy life, before pursuing an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree. Who knows: maybe his business knowledge will come in handy one day when he is marketing stories and novels!  

We are so glad all these students found a haven in English. All are unique in their life journeys and talents, but they are all united in one thing: they had a desire to connect meaningfully with humanity through the power of real and true, human-generated, words. In a world increasingly driven by computer-generated images, texts, and fakes, we invite you to experience a return to humanity, through the humanities! If you haven’t found your academic or career “home” yet, we hope you will consider English!