Minor in Screen Cultures

Darbyshire Burge, 2025

What was the most impactful class you took in your major?  

I was most impacted by my first poetry class, Forms of Poetry, with Professor Vivek Narayanan in the spring of 2022. It was only my second semester and I had no idea what I was doing or how to operate in a college environment, but Professor Narayanan was so understanding and created dialogue with his students not just lectures. It not only gave me a wider understanding of the many forms of poetry but gave me a better understanding of my place in the university. I learned to take risks, accept compliments, and learn from my mistakes all because of Vivek. 

What activities were you involved in during your time at George Mason that impacted you?  

I had many opportunities for leadership experiences that really shaped the way I interacted with George Mason during my time as a student. I was a member of the Queer Student Leadership Council (QSLC) and the president of Ahavah, the LGBTQ+ Jewish RSO. I also held leadership positions in the President-Student Advisory Group (PSAG) and the University Life Vice President Student Action Leadership Group (ULVP SALT). All of these experiences made me more connected to the George Mason community and taught me how to advocate for myself and connect with others. I studied abroad for a semester in New Zealand at Massey University in the spring of 2023 and loved the experience! It helped me develop the skills to thrive in unfamiliar environments and engage with people outside my own culture. 

What is your most memorable moment at George Mason inside or outside of the classroom?  

My most memorable moment at George Mason was winning the Sharon Draznin Award for Excellence in Judaic Studies in the spring of 2024. I had spent that semester in an independent study with Professor Alexandria Frisch, and the paper that won had taken me nearly the entire semester to write. It was ambitious in branching across languages and diving into sources I'd never interacted with before, so hearing my name called at the ceremony and receiving the award was recognition that my hard work and intensive research had been well worth it. 

As you are reflecting on your time at George Mason, what is one piece of advice you would give a student who is just starting off on their George Mason journey? 

Get involved, whatever that looks like for you! There are so many wonderful clubs and opportunities for community across campus, don't let your college experience be isolated. Meet people who care about the same things you do, organize events, and fully utilize the various resources that George Mason provides. 

What is your next step after graduation? What are your future plans?

I'm looking forward to continuing my work in both creative writing and Judaic studies, exploring more of the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities and compiling writings, both essays and poetry, on the subject.