by The Cowl Editor on April 26, 2018
Features
by Sabrina Guilbeault ’18
News Co-Editor
Right before her piano class in the Smith Center for the Arts, Megan Manning ’18 sat in the Slavin Atrium with her iced Dunkin’ coffee with just a splash of almond milk. “I’m just so not ready to graduate,” said Manning, who hails from Portland, Oregon. “Coming to PC was the best choice I ever made.”
For the second year in a row, Manning serves as editor-in-chief for the The Alembic, Providence College’s literary arts journal. The Alembic welcomes submissions from student writers and artists, as well as writers and artists outside of the PC community.
“I work with my team of editors to go through all the submissions, and together we decide what we want to include in the journal,” said Manning. She explained that it can be a difficult task, especially when having to make a decision not to include a submission, but it is also extremely rewarding.
“Sometimes I’ll read a poem that doesn’t necessarily strike me, but then a member of my team will find it so beautiful, and it’s so cool to hear that perspective and then be able to hear that poem in a whole new way,” Manning said.
Along with Manning’s position, The Alembic also has two managing editors and three working editors. The literary journalism class also helps with the layout of the journal. “So we could have three to even 10 people working on our publication depending on what part of the process we’re at.”
Over the summer and into the fall semester, Manning worked at Providence Media, a media conglomerate that covers features and news stories throughout the state of Rhode Island. “It was really fun,” said Manning, who did a lot of research and fact checking for the group and got to attend coffee shops and amusement parks as part of her research. “It may not be what I want to do in the future, but it was a cool way to explore Rhode Island and expand my skills as a writer and editor.”
Manning hopes to work for a publishing house, or something similar when she graduates. As an English major, Manning purposely chose PC for its proximity to New York and Boston. “I just felt New England was the place to be for a realistic career in publishing,” Manning said.
As for moving across the country to go to college, Manning explained that it just felt right. “I wanted to do something different, and be my own person,” she said. “My mom told me I had to narrow down my options, so I looked at about 10 schools, and after seeing PC I knew this was the place I wanted to be.”
Manning is extremely thankful for her English professor Dr. Epapharas Osondu, who got her involved in The Alembic her freshman year after she shared her interest in creative writing. “I feel very blessed that I have been able to get involved with something at PC that I am also extremely passionate about,” she said.
Along with The Alembic, Manning is also very active in Dance Club, is a member of the I Cantori choir, and studied abroad the fall of her junior year at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. “Study abroad was one of the coolest experiences of my life,” she said. “I feel so blessed that I have gotten the opportunities that I’ve had.”
While wrapping up the conversation, Manning shared the fun fact that throughout her college experience she will have had 15 roommates altogether, and is so thankful for the relationships she has developed by living with different people. “I love my girl squad,” she said. “I feel so blessed.”
Manning will be staying in Providence this summer as she continues her job search. “I’m giving myself three months, and then I’ll reevaluate.”
The Alembic launch party is taking place this coming Tuesday, May 1, at 5:30 p.m. in McPhail’s. “Come for the food, and come for the poetry,” Manning said. “We have some really, really talented writers this year, and I’m excited for them to share their work with community.”