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Holt, who is also an experienced panelist and a former teacher at Columbia University,听was proud to bring the student perspective into full focus. 鈥淪haring the stage with fellow writers and scholars, I reflected on Baldwin鈥檚 legacy as both an artist and a truth-teller who found freedom in self-exile, and how his observations continue to resonate for Black American writers today.鈥澨�听

For Holt,听Encounter on the Seine听was a re-read. During the summer of 2020, following the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, she received a set of Baldwin鈥檚 work and听immediately听connected with his reflections on the Black, Queer and American experience abroad.听At the time, she was immersed in the works of Audre Lorde and Angela Davis.听After reading听Giovanni鈥檚 Room,听she听dove听into Baldwin鈥檚 essays and non-fiction, which fundamentally changed the way in which she viewed Paris, and the possibilities therein.听听Soon, Holt鈥檚听future plans听would leap off the page, and lead her to discover Paris for herself.听听

When the 2023 Writer鈥檚 Strike took effect, Holt decided to听relocate听from New York City to Paris and explore new ways of writing. Like Baldwin, she found that a sense of place had a powerful effect on her听prose;听the slow, introspective pace of Paris, the winding walks and leisurely caf茅 culture presented a stark juxtaposition to that of New York, and the United States as a whole. Around every corner of this diverse, international city, a new opportunity was ready to present itself.听听

Holt was eager to find a听master's听program which would hone her craft while also expanding her ability to teach. On the recommendation of a friend, Holt discovered The American University of Paris and its newly launched MFA in Creative Writing. Now on campus as a member of the program鈥檚 inaugural class, she and her classmates have听continued听the long history of writers inspiring and challenging one another in the global salon of Paris. As they work toward final pieces to听submit听for publication, their courses drive them to experiment with form and genre in a workshop setting. Holt has previously focused on听non-fiction but听is finding herself increasingly open to writing fiction. This, she says, is prompted by the program鈥檚 unique assignment to produce creative responses to campus lectures听across disciplines.听

As students across campus settle into听their听routines, the Common Read听represents听only the beginning of their journey here. What begins with one听book听often develops into听unexpected dialogues,听new ideas, and the chance for students to challenge themselves academically. If听you are听considering bringing your academic journey to AUP, Holt has a few reading recommendations of her own,听including听Surviving Paris听(Robin Allison Davis)听and听I鈥檓听Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself听(Glynnis Macnicol)鈥攂oth stories of exploration in Paris鈥攁nd听Such a Fun Age听(Kiley Reed).听听

To learn more about AUP鈥檚 First Year Success Program, visit听our听website.听

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By Savannah Gerlach听