Grace Johnson is currently pursuing her Master of Arts (MA) in Writing with the Rhetoric and Composition track at Missouri State University, where she has found both belonging and direction. Through collaborative learning, faculty mentorship, and real-world teaching experiences, she is developing the skills and confidence that will guide her into a future career supporting writers at the community college level.

What Led Her to MO State’s Writing Graduate Program 

Grace Johnson’s journey toward her graduate degree at Missouri State University started long before she applied. As an undergraduate at another school, she took a class with a professor who had completed the very same MO State program she now studies. “I always admired her energy and disciplinary knowledge,” Grace recalls, “and I remember wondering: ‘Could I ever be like that?’” That question stayed with her as she considered her next steps. During a visit to the MO State campus, she met with the Graduate Program Director for the English MA program and immediately felt a sense of belonging. “To put it simply, I just felt like I could belong,” she says, even if it took a little time to get comfortable navigating Siceluff Hall. That feeling of possibility and welcome inspired Grace to join the program and pursue her passion for writing and rhetoric. 

Finding Confidence in a New Beginning 

She remembers her first day attending the new graduate student orientation,  feeling both excitement and fear. Sitting in a room filled with fellow students, Grace realized she wasn’t alone in feeling nervous, “looking around and seeing my own feelings of fear and uncertainty reflected in everyone’s faces,” she recalls. That moment gave her reassurance: if all those students could navigate grad school, so could she. Adding a little extra excitement to the day, Grace also won a swag bag from Graduate College – “the first time in my life I have ever won anything”- making her first orientation both memorable and encouraging. Those moments of connection and little wins gave Grace the confidence and optimism to begin her graduate journey here at Missouri State University. 

Finding Community in the English Department 

For Grace, being a graduate student isn’t just an academic pursuit – it’s a community experience. She’s discovered that community in Missouri State’s Department of English, where supportive spaces and welcoming people brighten her daily routine. Siceluff Hall’s open student lounge has become one of her favorite spots on campus, a place that “provides comfort, coffee, and puzzles as needed.” She also loves the English department’s annual open house, which she describes as a “fun and lighthearted setting to meet peers and professors” every fall. 

Beyond the classroom, Grace invests her time in the Rhetoric Society, a student organization for both graduate and undergraduate students. Her involvement has grown into leadership, and she now serves as the organization’s president. She especially values the “fun, hopeful, and enlightening conversations about what it means and doesn’t mean to be rhetorically aware in our world today.” 

A Mentor Who Makes All the Difference 

Grace credits much of her growth at Missouri State to the mentors and peers who surround her, especially Dr. Cynthia Johnson, whose support has shaped her journey. Grace shares that Dr. Johnson’s encouragement “has been everything.” She has consistently made space for Grace’s questions and ideas, offering feedback, and resources needed for her studies. Dr. Johnson also plays a central part in supporting all the Graduate Assistants in the English Department, guiding them as they navigate the unique experience of being both instructors and students in MO State’s English classrooms. 

Growing as a Scholar and Instructor 

When Grace looks at where she is now, she doesn’t just see a list of accomplishments; she sees a dream taking shape.

“I am most proud that I am here, going to grad school at MSU in a program I love and with a department who believes in me and the people around me. I think that by itself is an accomplishment worth celebrating.” 

Along the way, she’s also built a portfolio of professional experiences that are preparing her for her long-term goal of teaching writing at a community college.  Through her graduate program and graduate assistantship, she has: 

• Presented at her first academic conference at Johnson County Community College. 

• Received institutional funding to attend a professional institute in Salt Lake City focused on two-year college writing studies. 

• Collaborated with an English faculty member on a textbook project. 

• Taught three different writing courses (ENG 100, 110, and 210), both online and in person. 

She also brought her commitment to writing beyond campus. This past summer, Grace partnered with an adult literacy nonprofit near her hometown in Joplin, Missouri, where she designed and led a two-week community writing workshop. That experience, she says, deepened her belief in education as a public good and allowed her to imagine new possibilities for connecting college writing programs with community-based learning. 

Looking Ahead 

As she continues in the Writing, Rhetoric and Composition program, Grace remains inspired by the peers, faculty, and mentors who have shaped her graduate journey. She hopes to someday bridge her interests in college writing programs and community literacy initiatives, bringing the strengths of both worlds into her future work. 

With every step she takes – as a scholar, teacher, and community advocate – Grace Johnson shows what’s possible when passion meets support. We proudly celebrate her as a #GradBear.