December 05, 2025

Determined to change the direction of his life, Brian Meny turned to VU for a brighter future. He flourished, graduating with honors (Magna Cum Laude) and an associate degree in Education with an English Concentration. Brian has embraced every opportunity, including literature courses and the Creative Writing Club, to nurture his love of storytelling and foster the skills he hopes to pass on to his future students.

Below, Brian reflects on his VU experiences, shares his career aspirations, and more.

Why did you choose to attend VU?

"I chose to go to VU because I wanted to make something of my life. I worked dead-end jobs for five years after graduating from high school. I wanted to see if I had the potential to be something greater, so I decided to apply to colleges, and only VU gave me a chance. After two years of attending, I am happy to have made that decision.”

Why did you choose to earn an associate degree in Education with an English Concentration?

"I want to be an English educator for two simple reasons. I love stories, and I want to make a positive change by helping people. Being able to express my love for storytelling while helping the next generation achieve greater heights is a dream job. I want to make an impact on the world, and I think this is what I can do.”

What are your plans after graduation?

"I plan to attend the University of Evansville next. After that? I plan to teach full-time at a high school, and then eventually pursue a master's in English.”

What have been your best experiences at VU?

“I loved being a part of the Creative Writing Club. They help motivate me to create poems and stories like the one in the Spring and Fall Zine. They were really fun to talk to, also. I was nervous about joining, but I am glad I made that decision. It made me step out of my comfort zone. For my in-class experiences, I loved all of my literature classes. Children's literature, American Lit. 1-2, and British Lit.; all of these expanded my mind through both discussions and the literature we read, and they were enjoyable. My favorite class was Creative Writing. I loved the discussions there too, and expressing my creativity.”

Tell us more about your experiences.

"One last thing I will remember is my time with Professor (Tyson) Sims and Matthew Norman, my advisor. Sims' teaching helped me immensely, and the conversations I had with them were insightful, funny, and expansive. I had him from English Comp., American Lit. 1 and 2, and finally grammar. I always looked forward to seeing Norman for similar reasons as with Professor Sims: I liked talking to him, and he felt like a friend. Both Norman and Sims are great people.”

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