Teagan Barton

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Programs	Creative Media Major
Class	2025
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	California

Concentration

Creative Writing

Favorite Class

Introduction to Creative Writing

What drew you to your major? Why does your field matter?

I was always interested in creative writing, and have been making short stories, prose, and poems since I was a kid. When I started at Champlain, I thought I wanted to pursue Game Design. However, as time went on, I realized that it wasn’t truly what I wanted to do and decided to change majors. With the Creative Media major, we learn how to collaborate with each other on modern topics that require multiple levels of understanding. Being able to express ourselves in different mediums is an important aspect of the major and Division of Information Technology & Sciences impact on the world. Through the lens of an artist, we have perspectives on subjects that wouldn’t normally be seen by people, and we strive to relay those perspectives through our work. The Creative Media teachers that I’ve had are passionate about what they do, making the classes very enjoyable. They bring the students together in ways that benefit us individually and as a whole. The curriculum here is a lot better than I had even expected, and I look forward to the classes I will be taking in the future.

What has surprised you the most about Champlain?

The aspect of Champlain that surprised me the most was how much better small class sizes were for learning. I knew about the class size prior to attending, but I didn’t realize how much of a difference it would make in getting to know my classmates and the professors. I was used to classes being at least 25 people, and now that I have had classes with only 10 people, being in a class with fewer people is immensely more helpful.

What is something you’ve grown to be proud of while here? What has humbled you or challenged you in that time?

After taking Creative Media classes, I have grown to be proud of my own iterative process. I learned more about it in the Spring semester, and now I have the chance to deepen my knowledge. My process has improved significantly since beginning at Champlain. My work now revolves around making drafts and alternate versions of the final product, which allows for more creative freedom. Being confronted with more complicated or broad prompts challenged me to think outside the box for a solution or a final product. I expect to be challenged even more before the semester ends, and I relish the challenge.