by: Mason Gentry
Erin Morrison is a reporter for the Parkland Prospectus who joined the team in the 2019 Fall Semester.
Morrison’s primary reason for joining the Prospectus was to develop her writing skills. But interestingly enough, her favorite part about reporting is conducting interviews. She explained that she took on the reporter responsibility partly because her mother was an assistant editor and journalist for the Prospectus when she attended Parkland.
Morrison’s family has lived in the area for generations. “My mom went here [Parkland]; a couple of my aunts went here, and my grandparents have taken classes here,” she said. At the University of Illinois, her aunt graduated with a master’s degree in Biology, another aunt studied accounting, her mother studied literature and library sciences, and her father studied Philosophy and Political Science.
In fact, her family used to live only a few blocks West of Parkland on a farm; her grandmother even came here on a covered wagon.
Morrison went to Judah Christian School during her middle school years and was homeschooled for high school. She is now a liberal arts and sciences major and is thinking about transferring into media communications at Parkland. While she is still unsure, she said she may transfer to the University of Illinois to study creative writing.
She is sure, however, that she would like to write in her future. Morrison likes the idea of being a journalist but is also interested in screen writing—where she would write scripts for plays, movies or other performing arts.
Morrison said that, “I used to want to be in fashion, and then I thought that the industry was bad for the environment. They burn everything and they’re very elitist.”
Studying abroad in the United Kingdom is also on the list of things that Morrison would like to do, but she said that she has a flying phobia and isn’t sure if she ever will.
If she were to study abroad, Morrison wonders what subject she would study. “I think it’s more just the experience of something different—so then I’m like more confident in my choices, knowing I’m like the same person somewhere else,” she said. Morrison also expressed that she would prefer to travel as a student rather than as a tourist.
“I used to want to be in fashion, and then I thought that the industry was bad for the environment. They burn everything and they’re very elitist”
Morrison is interested in poetry, as well. She said that she has been really starting to like Instagram poetry because it’s very simple and accessible to everyone. Milk and Honey, a poetry book by author Rupi Kaur, is one her favorites within the Instagram poetry world. Along with Instagram poetry, Morrison enjoys young adult poetry and what it has to offer younger readers.
When asked about her hobbies, Morrison explained that a lot of her time is spent on the Actor’s Studio Series at Parkland called “Machinal.” “Machinal” is, “the studio series play here, so that’s my hobby, that’s like every other night at least,” Morrison said. She plays a nurse in episode four and a young woman in episode seven.
Outside of school, Morrison likes to browse the internet, talk with friends, go to movies and read. Her favorite Netflix show is Black Mirror. Sometimes, she also plays Lego Harry Potter on DS and cell phone.
Every Thursday, you can read one of Morrison’s articles in the print newspaper or online. To learn more about her experience at the Prospectus, please visit the ‘Meet the Staff’ section of the Prospectus website.
