Ellen Sorenson holds a BA, MA, and  PhD in English and American literature and English Education. A lifelong student of literature, Ellen has focused studies in American literature, United States history, library media, Middle English, Spanish, pedagogy, second language instruction, and linguistics.

She has  taught American history, English, ESL, and literature classes at every level from kindergarten through college. Now retired from teaching, she writes for young adults and middle grades.

She’s also a wife, a mom, a grandma, a neighbor, a swimmer, a gardener, a singer, a traveler, and a friend. She researches her own family’s history, volunteers in a genealogy library,  and hangs old quilts on her walls.

Ellen tells this story:

I was a doctoral student in English when I shared my excitement with another middle school teacher “I have approval of my dissertation proposal!”

She was surprised. “Are you going to try to find a job at a university?”

“Oh no,” I said. “I love what I do. I don’t plan to go anywhere else.”

“So you want to be an administrator?”

“No way. I love working with the kids.”

“Then you’re just doing it for the raise?”

“Hah. I don’t expect I’ll ever make back what I’m spending on tuition, books, transportation, or fast food along the way.”

“So you just want the prestige?”

“Like my students will be more attentive in class or I’ll be excused from bus duty? No. I don’t expect anything here to change.”

She was clearly puzzled. “So why are you doing it?”

If she had to ask, she probably won’t ever understand why some people just have to keep studying—have to keep reading and trying to write the world in a way that makes sense.

“I guess,” I said, “it’s just a really expensive and time-consuming hobby.”

I’m blessed with a very rich life. I hope my stories and reading insights enrich your life as well. Ellen Sorenson

Korean Demilitarized Zone, February, 2019