Class of 2020: Lewis Sayers
Finishing university is a difficult time for any student. Our alumni usually continue with further study, go travelling, or find job opportunities. However, finishing university during Covid-19 has left the Class of 2020 with a very different experience of finishing their degrees. In our Class of 2020 series, recent alumni discuss the impact of Covid-19 on their studies and future plans.
Lewis Sayers BIO
Lewis Sayers attended York St John University to study Creative Writing, achieving a First Class degree, with Honours. In Lewis’ second year, his work appeared in Science Fiction for Survival.
What is your favourite memory from your time at YSJ?
I’m not sure I can really land on a single memory; I know that most days I attended I left smiling and happier for it. Whether it be a conversation with a lecturer, a fellow student, or something interesting imparted during a lecture. Even something silly like bumping into everyone and having a spontaneous trip to that café or grabbing a drink.
It’s all those small things that just tumble into a feeling that trumps any one single memory
Was there a module you enjoyed the most in your three years, and why?
Poetry. I’d never had an interest in the form before and found it to be incredibly intimidating, but I took a chance on the module due to a brief introduction to it in First Year (and it seemed more interesting than the other modules I was presented with – sorry!)
Thanks to my lecturer Caleb I was able to really experiment with poetry without fear, much of the elitism that I thought surrounded the form was washed away and I was exposed to so many incredibly varied poets, and poetic styles, throughout the module. Caleb even gave me some recommendations on other poets to read based on what he thought I might like.
It has started a whole adventure into poetry for me both as a reader and a writer…something I don’t think would have happened if I did not attend YSJU and select that module. Pretty sure there’s a lesson about trying things in there somewhere.
When campus closed and it was announced teaching would continue online, what was your reaction?
I was impressed by the University’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances swiftly and with little-to-no issues.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE FINISHING YOUR DEGREE DURING LOCKDOWN? DID YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND IF SO, DID ANYONE HELP YOU OVERCOME THEM?
I didn’t find it too problematic. However, the impact of the Coronavirus; that is the anxiety, quarantine and resulting isolation, infection, and fear…it inspired my dissertation greatly.
I found many parallels in what I was feeling, what the world was feeling, and the discussions and situations that arose from that, to be similar to what my characters might be going through.
Scenarios in my writing felt enriched by the experience of those early months of the Coronavirus and I owe that in part to living what my characters might have been on some level beyond any research I could have done. With that enhanced understanding I was able to better craft my current chapters and more deeply explore the situations I had written.
I think long-term it will do a lot of good for my writing, despite the stir-craziness from looking at the same four walls during lockdown.
How did you celebrate handing in your final assessment?
Celebrations are postponed at this point. I did abuse my Disaronno™ and had a selfishly indulgent bath though.
What are you doing now, and has Covid-19 affected your plans?
Thankfully not as much as I thought it might have. There’s difficulties that I think all of us have to contend with, but I am still set to pursue a Master’s this year!
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
Mostly just a thank you to my tutors, lecturers, and all those I’ve interacted with at YSJ. I’m so happy I made the decision to study and my life is genuinely better for it.
You can follow Lewis on Twitter and instagram. @nottobejude
Enjoyed this final post in our Class of 2020 series? Why not read Reece’s post next? Keep an eye out for more exciting content coming soon.
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