“You are so much sunshine to the square inch” is a quote by Walt Whitman that Illinois Beta-Delta Samantha Duffy looks to for motivation in her life. “I love the idea that someone is so much sunshine that it covers your whole being and radiates out of you,” Samantha said. It’s what she strives to be: brightness in the lives of those around her.

Studying creative writing and Spanish at Knox College, Samantha has always been interested in how words create stories and entice one’s imagination. She read a lot as a kid and would often write her own stories on loose-leaf paper. It was not until she was a junior in high school that she realized it was something she could study in college.

Samantha took a class focusing primarily on creative writing. She wrote stories and began writing poetry. When her teacher, Ms. Gallen, told Samantha she was good at it, the feedback was very encouraging to her. “[The class] helped me realize it was important, cool and that I could do it!” And Samantha did continue to do it. She entered a writing competition at her local library called “Write On!” and placed every year in high school. She won the entire competition her junior year!

Her passion for creative writing has helped Samantha to build confidence and believe in herself. She has continued to submit work at Knox College and is now interviewing for summer internships. Samantha is hopeful to land a position in editing or publishing in New York, Chicago or Minnesota.