Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Poveda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michelle , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.
I’ve worked full-time in higher education for over fifteen years. In that time and through my own education experiences, I have found many joys and deterrents in the education system. The biggest of those deterrents has unequivocally been financial. I strongly believe higher education should be free for all. This would greatly release the pressure and time it takes for mostly students of color to attain and search for scholarships, work countless part time jobs and go into thousands of dollars worth of student loan debt.
While I adored my MFA in creative writing program, the stress of coming up with the money to pay off my loan debt, on a writer’s salary is immense. Higher education, with all of its benefits, is still lacking in its ability to provide a clear pathway to employment for students, particularly to those in the humanities. I’ve seen small strides in this area, but much more needs to be done.
Michelle , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a freelance writer and copy editor with more than fourteen years of experience. I earned my Bachelor’s in communication from San Diego State University in 2005 and my MFA in creative writing from UC Riverside’s low-residency program in 2021.
I have provided content to a variety of publications including: Time Out, PBS SoCal, Thrillist, OC Register, Modern Luxury, San Diego Magazine and more. I’ve also copyedited for Captura, a bilingual marketing agency, PBS SoCal, Pasadena City College and the Coachella Review.
I recently had my essay, “I Found My Apartment by Going on a Terrible Date,” published in the L.A. Times, and am currently working on the manuscript for my first novel, which I am looking to complete this year.
While I currently work full-time in higher education, I am always looking to provide my copyediting and content writing services, and hope to transfer those skills to full-time work in 2024.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The goal right now is to finish my manuscript. Being able to tell my story, which is inspired by my parent’s immigration story to the U.S. in the 1960’s, is what keeps me going.
There is a lack of Latinx stories in publishing, and while I understand the road is hard and I have many barriers to get through, the thought of one day seeing my book on a bookshelf or in the hands of someone who finds some recognition in my story, keeps me motivated.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The response, whether positive or negative, to something I’ve written. Obviously, I’d rather have positive responses to my work, but the fact that I can create something that elicits an emotional response from someone, is remarkable. I also love meeting and interviewing new people with my work. Working with PBS SoCal, I had the pleasure of interviewing educators who are doing remarkable things in their communities, and show such compassion and dedication to their students. Discovering new worlds and being invited into a slice of someone else’s life, is such an honor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://michellepoveda.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellepovedaisawriter/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichellePoveda
Image Credits
Michelle Poveda