Who I am, and How and Why I Write
Posted by Lauren
September 6, 2012
I have embarked on a journey unlike any I’ve been faced with before. A journey begins with a single step… right? Well, here I go. Hello and Good Vibes. My name is Lauren M. Hannigan. I was born under the sun sign Aries and my yin sign is Leo (if you’re unfamiliar with astrology, this means my personality is fire-y, very proud, and I love to be the center of attention). I study Literature and Women’s Studies (I like to call it Chick Lit) at California State University, Long Beach. Louisville, home to the Kentucky Derby and Hunter S. Thompson, was where I was born and raised. I attended Assumption High School — a girl’s school like no other. I always dreamed about being able to escape and go to college in California; through some miracle — I actually got the opportunity to go! Louisville consumes the right side of my heart; Long Beach consumes the left.
Assumption is where I became interested in the field of Women’s Studies. The Assumption Rocket’s have a passion for education, going green, social justice, and blossoming young women of integrity and equality. Assumption introduced me to feminism (I don’t think it would be inaccurate to say a good majority of the teachers are hardcore feminists). I read Woolf, Plath, hooks, de Beauvoir, Ibsen, Atwood, and many other classic Writers of Womanhood — and fell in love with the cause. I am a Feminist — this is a title I wear with pride.
I want to be a writer. Poetry spills from my soul — I try to write a poem a day. Sometimes it turns out to be a haiku. I want to write books about Feminist Theory, social justice, yoga, and politics. All of those topics do intersect oddly enough. Reproductive Justice, the topic of this blog in particular, is a perfect puzzle piece to the topics I have a forte in. I’m excited to expand my knowledge and my worldview.
I write about what I know and how I feel about knowing such things. I believe knowledge is power. Through the things I write, I pray for the ability to educate, entertain and inform. I want to change the world through my words, and I think I can.
I was invited to attend a Reproductive Justice Leadership Institution of Choice USA at my school last year and met the Cal State Long Beach Choice USA club. I soon learned it was a very tiny club rich with passion and talent. Today the club has just three members. We recently renamed the club Choice at the Beach. Vanessa, Kanaan, and I traveled to Denver this summer together for the Regional Conference of Choice USA. I’m excited to get to know this pair of extraordinary individuals this year — they have taught me so much already.
When the application for Student Correspondent team came out — I was thrilled at the opportunity presented before me. It seemed almost too good to be true. I applied and got the gig. I spent the next few weeks thinking it must be a dream – writing about Reproductive Justice professionally? Incredible. I am so grateful for this opportunity, you really have no idea. I’m going to give this blog all that I’ve got.
The topic of this blog is Reproductive Justice. This is a topic I will define and explore further in my next weeks posting. Sexuality is a vital part of the human experience. Thus, Reproductive Justice is a loaded issue and prevalent in every decision we make.
Other topics that intersect beautifully with Reproductive Justice and I plan to discuss include: vegetarianism, self-sufficiency, sustainable living, animal rights, Feminist Theory, Astrology, Theology/”God Language”, and Chick Lit. I vow to be a writer of facts, truth, and integrity. I vow to not bore you to death, as well.
Walt Whitman is one of my favorite writers. His poem “O Me! O Life!” asks what the point of life and living is. It ends in saying this, “That you are here – that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.”
To all of the great Chick Lit writers of the past: I pray that this can be my verse.
Very interesting young lady. I’m looking forward to hearing more from you.
Let the powerful play go on, and may you continue to contribute your verse.
“ROCK ON”! Keep reading, learning, thinking and writing. Great things will follow!
Man, do I love me some southern women!