At Southeast Missouri State University, English students are building confidence and community through public readings that bring their writing off the page and into a live audience setting. Through public readings hosted at Catapult Creative House, students are stepping up to the mic, building confidence, and finding community through their work.
Hosted by Journey, SEMO’s student literary organization, the readings offer an open and welcoming space for students across majors to share poetry, fiction and personal writing. The events highlight the collaborative and experiential nature of SEMO’s English programs.
For Amber Fenton, an interior design major with a minor in writing from Holcomb, Missouri, the readings are a creative outlet that complements her career goals.
“I have two distinct passions,” Fenton said. “I love interior design and creative writing. It’s creativity for me. I love to express it in multiple different ways.”
Amber hopes to one day work for a design firm that allows her to travel internationally while continuing to write.
Samantha Chorab, a double major in political science and writing from Eureka, Missouri, sees writing as a tool for impact.
“I want to go into political communication, to use my political science and writing skills to amplify the voices from my community,” she said.
Beyond individual expression, both students emphasized how public readings transform what is often a solitary activity into a shared experience.
“The nature of writing is inherently solitary—you’re at your laptop or notebook by yourself,” Chorab said. “With a public reading, you’re not by yourself anymore. You’re interacting with your peers. It builds confidence and creates a sense of community.”
That sense of connection is central to Journey, which was originally founded in the late 1960s and reestablished in 1971. After a slowdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has seen a resurgence in recent years, now drawing dozens of students to its meetings and events.
“It’s really cool that we all have these different interests, but we have this shared interest in writing,” Amber said. “I think accepting criticism is really important to learn as any type of creative, but here, it’s more about appreciating each other’s work and creating a supportive environment.”
That supportive environment extends beyond English majors. Students from a variety of disciplines participate in readings and contribute to Journey’s publication.
Faculty support also plays a key role, with professors promoting events in classes and encouraging students to get involved. According to Samantha, that involvement can have a ripple effect.
“It makes students feel more engaged in their classes and more involved on campus,” she said. “It gives them the courage to try for internships and campus jobs. It really brings people together.”
Two public readings remain this semester, both beginning at 5 p.m. at Catapult Creative House. The next will be held March 27, followed by a final reading on April 24.
Looking ahead, Journey leaders anticipate continuing the tradition in the fall, with additional readings planned to give even more students the opportunity to share their voices.
The Journey Student Literary Organization publishes Journey Student Literary Magazine, an annual literary journal that shares original written works of SEMO students. Journey 2026 is on is due to be published this summer and will be available to pick up in Grauel this August.
Learn more about how SEMO students bring their creativity to life through hands-on experiences at semo.edu/english.