Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter-Students

Portraits Dr. Bender, Jason, Becky, Amanda, Michelle, Theresa, Holly, Franny, Laura, Jacquelyn, Cathleen, at Kings Cross Station's Platform Nine and three-quarters, London	The June 2006 Class Roll and introductions
Amanda	Hello!! It's Amanda Loftis. I was just responding to your e-mail about information. I don't really know what to say so I guess I'll just do the basics! I will be a junior at MTSU after this semester is over with. My major is soon to be Public Relations, so I'm really excited about that. I love reading, it's one of my favorite activities, and my other passion is music. Oh yeah, I am also a movie junkie! This will be my first "big" travel experience although I do like to visit different areas. My favorite place to go used to be New Orleans, unfortunately I haven't been in a while, for obvious reasons. My most memorable Christmas was the one I shared with my family. I have two older sisters and a half-brother...mom and dad are divorced. I work as a waitress for some extra cash, and I am REALLY looking foward to visiting England and Scotland! I am going to attempt to attach some pictures for you! Anything else you are interested in, feel free to ask!
Laura	I'm really looking forward to this trip. I've been looking forward to it since last summer. So I guess I should tell you a little about me. My name's Laura Huff, and I'm a sophomore at Western Kentucky University. I've lived practically my whole life in Kentucky, and the farthest I've been out of Kentucky is Nashville. Yes, it's sad. I've wanted to go to England since I was in the 4th grade. How many 4th graders can say that? I'm majoring in English, the writing option concentrating in creative writing. I'm also doing a double minor in theatre and broadcast journalism. I love writing and reading (I'm a bookworm). All I read is children's and YA books. I also love theatre. I've been in a theatre group for the past three years. I love acting and working in the theatre. You make some great friends when working in a theatre. I've been getting into filmmaking the past year making music videos and a documentary about my theatre group. I work in a convenience store (my boss recently built a new one that I think is more trouble than it's worth) mostly just stocking and cleaning and occasionally running the cash register. I'm not entirely sure what I want to do after I finish school, but that's because there are so many things I want to do, I don't know what to do first. Mostly I'd like to write YA books and make films. Some random facts: I'm a self-proclaimed dork. I don't listen to a certain type of music preferring just the song itself. I'm a veritable vault of movie trivia. And, in the words of Ed Wynn in Mary Poppins, "I love to laugh." In case you don't already know, I really like to write. I'm sure that's more than you ever wanted to know about me, but I never really know what to say when I have to talk about myself. I can't wait until the trip. Sincerely, Laura P.S. The picture attached is a random one of me. I have only one or two pictures of me on my computer because I hate pictures of myself. :D
Jackie	My name is Jacquelyn Valentine. I am 18, I will actually be turning 19 on the trip on June 29. I am currently in undecided major, but hope to become an elementary education major soon. Last year was my first trip out of the country, I went on a cruise around and to Italy with my grandmother Saho, my mother mother. I like to perform, acting, singing, dancing that kind of thing I also like to play sports like soccer and such. I have 5 people in my immediate family. My mother Robin, Father Jim, Sister Katie, and Brother Ben. I am the middle child. I like reading but only fantasy books like Harry Potter and that's about it, I think. -Jacquelyn
Theresa	Sorry it's taken me so long to respond- end of the semester is catching up with me over here at EKU. I'm a music education major with an English minor, and I'm taking mostly literature courses for that minor. I'm finishing up my third year at EKU, and I have one more year to go, and then two summer classes next year. Outside interests... obviously I love to read, mainly a fantasy novel person, and of course I love music as well. Not much a TV person, but I love watching movies. I'm in the process of becoming a manager at Pizza Hut, where I've been a driver for a year. Oh, and if you couldn't tell from the picture I sent, my friends and I love to go to Renaissance Festivals. I'm the one on the left, in black. I've done a fair amount of travelling in the States, and I've been to Toronto, but that doesn't hardly count. I've also been to the Dominican Republic, but I was about six at the time, so my memories from that are sketchy. Umm... favorite authors include, but are not limited to Terry Pratchett, Mercedes Lackey, Charles de Lint, Garth Nix, Tamora Pierce, Robert A. Heinlein, Robin McKinley, and Robert Asprin. Favorite music: George Gershwin, Copeland, Dvorak, Mussorgsky, Berlioz, Nine Inch Nails, Audioslave, Pink Floyd, The Beatles (the more mature stuff anyway), Nirvana, Miles Davis, er, that's probably enough to bore anyone that's a non-music major. I just happen to think that what I read and listen to says the most about me. Oh, and I tend to draw on myself. No tattoos yet, but I have a down payment for one for when I get back from Scotland and have money again! I did want to ask you, are we supposed to bring all the books we are to read with us overseas? If not, are there any we should bring at all? Thank you so much, I'm really looking forward to the trip and the studies! -Theresa
Michelle	It's very nice to hear from you.... I don't have a picture to send but I would be happy to tell you a little about myself: I am finishing up my junior year here at Northern Kentucky University and am a English/lit major with a minor in Women's Studies. I am a full time student and work two jobs as well as take care of my mother - so not much time for travel! I am very excited about this trip and think the actual study will be just as interesting as getting to be in Scotland and England, almost! I look forward to meeting you as well! See you soon, -Michelle
Jason Jason	My name is Jason Dickson, and I am currently a senior at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). I have lived in Chattanooga all my life, and have recently returned to college. I am an Education major and hope to be teaching high school English in 2007. I am a member of The Adult Scholars program here at UTC as well as Pi Lambda Theta, and I try to stay as active in both as possible. When not around school, which is not to often anymore, I like to spend time with Fridee, my dog, and take walks in the evening. I have never traveled outside the country before so I am looking forward to this experience. This will also be my first time on an airplane; I think I'll be ok though. Jason Dickson
Cathleen	I am finishing up my junior year at Western Oregon University. I am majoring in Elementary Education and am in my first term of our Education Program (the program that I will get my initial teacher's license through). I have not done much traveling. I go to Washington every year, I have family that I visit once in awhile in Idaho, I have to Mt. Shasta in California, and I have been to Vancouver, B.C. a few times. My family and I are going to go to Reno in September and I can't wait for that!:) I have an older sister who is also in college and I have a twin sister who goes to the same school as I do. We have been inseperable our whole lives. I love to quilt, sew, anything to do with crafts. I have done about 6 quilts in the four years that I have been quilting. Two of them both won first place at our county fair (I beat out all the old women!!LOL) I love to be outdoors because I love nature. I like to hike, go jogging and walking, raft, camp, etc. Anything to be outside I will do. I can't wait to go to England because, besides my mom, I will be the only one if my family to go across seas. I am a quarter French and that is why my mom has been to Europe a few times, we have family in France. I don't know what else to say, so if you want to ask me anything, please do. I have attached a picture of myself too. Oh, I almost forgot, I am attending this study abroad program with my roommate Holly. She is the one who got me to go. p.s. I have attached two pictures. There is one with my sister too, I am the one on the right. With kindness from my heart, -Cathleen Eberly
Holly	My name is Holly Winters. I am a senior by credits (third year) at Western Oregon University. I am studying elementary education, and I am graduating this next spring. I have lived in Oregon my whole life, and so this is a great opportunity for me to not only travel, study literature, but also meet people from around the United States. I have been traveling on family vacations for as long as I can remember. This is exciting for me because I have never been to England, and I have always dreamed about going. I am a huge fan of British literature, and television. I know it sounds weird, but it is something I enjoy. I cannot wait to have this experience! I am very close with my family. They mean the world to me. My parents have always wanted me to have great experiences in life. Therefore, they are excited that I am going. I have an older sister, who has two children. I have a 13-year-old niece, and a nephew who will be turning one when we are in England! My hobbies are very simple. I love to sing and dance! I have been singing for as long as I can remember and I have been dancing for even longer. I love to do anything outside. I enjoy experiencing God’s beauty, and I enjoy reading about places to travel. I also enjoy looking at maps of place. It is another weird thing about me, but it is fun to me. I love to read in general. My favorite author is Jane Austen (of course)! I cannot wait to travel and do reading! This is my hobbies all in one for me. I will be traveling with my best friend/roommate Cathleen, and this will be exciting for both of us! I cannot wait to meet you, and everyone else! -Holly Winters
Franny
Anne
David
Dr. Bender
Kit (the fellow with a camera)

Portraits

The June 2006 Class Roll and introductions