Independent Studies | University of Waterloo

Joseph Frank graduated from Independent Studies in June 2006 and studied not only English Literature but focused his time at the University of Waterloo on the craft of creative writing. His undergraduate Independent Studies thesis is a collection of short stories linking a grandfather to his grandson entitled, How Close Am I to Loosing You. Currently Joe is working towards publishing the stories contained in his thesis.

Joseph will begin graduate studies at the University of Toronto in the English and Creative Writing Program in September 2006. After graduate studies, he wishes to continue on to a PhD and eventually write fiction while teaching English and creative writing at the university level.

Regarding his experience in IS, Joseph comments:

"IS matured me. IS made me the kind of student I know I could not have been in any other program. The program offered equal degrees of autonomy and support, providing me the arena to explore the interconnectedness of academics and creativity, reaching recognized success while at once feeling true success within myself. The IS experience helped me to demand the best quality studies of myself and instilled in me the desire to continue studying and pursue an academic career.

I would excitedly recommend IS to others.

IS reflects positively on UW and is consistent with what is offered by UW because UW is a progressive and ambitious institution. UW's success, like any university's success, relies on creativity both from the faculty and students as well as the administration. Ground breaking studies are achieved by those willing to experiment and tease out the greatness in those things that the lay person does not immediately take notice of.

This is what IS is - small, out of the way, but intensely experimental and ambitious. I hesitate to use the term "revolutionary" in an effort not to romanticize the program, but IS is revolutionary. It is liberal, it is daring. IS is populated by true students, self-motivated and forward-thinking. Isn't that exactly what the heart of academia should be?"

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Joseph Frank This page was last reviewed on January 14, 2009