Autumn McIntyre graduated from AUR in 2023 with her undergraduate degree in English Writing, Literature, and Publishing and was offered a job soon after with the International Student Support system at Rivier University. There, she worked as a Study Abroad Coordinator, a position she was perfect for because of her experience living and studying abroad in Rome. She shared that most companies look for something that makes an applicant stand out, and for Autumn, and many others who choose to go abroad for university, international experience really helps to get a foot in the door.
Autumn was thankful that her first job after graduating was in higher education because she felt it provided a smooth transition from being a student to a working adult, but eventually, Autumn was ready for a career change and wanted to find something new and challenging. A friend of hers sent her a job posting for the Public Affairs Organizer at Planned Parenthood and Autumn applied, though she thought it was a long shot; she had never studied policy or political science, but she had written for a nonprofit in high school and helped organize activist events. However, the hiring committee was impressed with her experience and she is now employed as the Public Affairs Organizer of Planned Parenthood New Hampshire.
Autumn is tasked with things like phone banking, canvassing, and conducting community outreach. She helps spearhead the ‘Bridging the Gap’ program which fosters safe conversations about challenging topics like abortion. Additionally, Autumn recruits and trains volunteers, helps with electoral campaigns, and works with various youth groups and colleges. She is proud to report that, “whenever there are important bills up for discussion, my team and I go to the NH State House to see the outcome.” Even though each day brings new challenges, Autumn focuses on the importance of providing support for her community and fostering connections that act as a unifying force in the unprecedented times facing the United States.
To that end, it is Autumn’s opinion that the rights of many people are under attack. Planned Parenthood provides, “fair, equitable, and accessible healthcare, reproductive care, birth control, and more for women, LGBTQ+, trans people, and marginalized groups,” and she finds it is deeply concerning that many people are at risk of losing access to primary healthcare. She notes that if Planned Parenthood is defunded and access to safe health care is further criminalized or unavailable, the consequences will be devastating. Autumn took this job because she wants to help those who need support and can’t fight for themselves, and she wants to make a difference. Autumn affirms that, “even if I reach one person, that’s enough.”
Speaking about her degree in English, Autumn told me that there are invaluable connections between the power of literature and activism. She believes that people often underestimate how being a critical reader impacts one’s ability to be empathetic and exercise emotional intelligence in real world situations. Autumn reminds us that, “When we read, we are afforded the gift of another’s perspective and we learn to understand and empathize with their lives.” With her degree in English, she is aware that her critical thinking, awareness, communication, and cultural understanding have been amplified in ways that foster impactful change. History and theory were a part of her everyday classroom immersion, and equipped her with the skills and knowledge that make her an integral part of the Planned Parenthood team.
The connections between Autumn’s English degree and her work as a Public Affairs Organizer are what she defines as “pillars of humanity.” She has learned how to be the best possible advocate for others as a result of the expansive worldview that literature instills in students. Specifically, Autumn reflects that, “the critical analysis from the class discussions and essays made me better at thinking outside the box and examining situations from different angles.” Additionally, the implications of writing well and speaking concisely in a professional setting are second nature for Autumn thanks to her studies at AUR.
Ultimately, Autumn notes that a degree in English is not only about reading and writing; it allows students to gain a deeper understanding of and empathy for the experiences of others. In closing, Autumn states that, “the great thing about studying English is how multipurpose and transferrable the skills are.”
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