Seraiah Lodge’s love of reading and learning began early in life.
Lodge, a junior at Millsaps College and Jackson, Miss. native, grew up among educators.
“My mom and her sister are both first-grade teachers,” Lodge said. “That environment helped reinforce my love of reading and writing early on.”
In high school, Lodge planned on attending college outside of Mississippi. However, the COVID-19 pandemic canceled her plans to study away from home. She decided to start her college experience at Millsaps, with plans to eventually transfer out of state.
She quickly changed her mind during her freshman year.
“I really tried to put myself out there to find my fit, and I became a presidential ambassador. I was able to find my place and really developed this love for the community.”
In addition to the Millsaps community, Lodge also enjoyed Millsaps’ broad Compass Curriculum. Through the curriculum, Lodge found she enjoyed the challenge and growth she gained through courses like pre-calculus and calculus.
“To me, being an English major in a liberal arts college allows me to question and challenge other ways of thinking. Taking classes outside of my field, such as calculus, have the opposite effect. There is little room for me to challenge the methods used, and there is normally one way to get a specific answer. This knowledge of utilizing strategic, mathematical methods to get solutions shows me I am capable of mastering skills foreign to my major.”
In addition to growing in the classroom, Lodge has found opportunities to follow her love for literature, writing and teaching at Millsaps. Under the leadership of Dr. Michael Pickard, assistant professor of English and E.B. Stewart Family Professor in Language and Literature, she works alongside her peers to promote and preserve the works of Eudora Welty through Millsaps’ Digital Welty Lab. Lodge also is a teaching fellow with the Mississippi Museum of Art, leading tours of the museum and preparing learning activities for students ranging from elementary to high school.
“With both of these opportunities, I get to connect with different people from various backgrounds over written and visual art,” Lodge said. “It is absolutely phenomenal and insightful!”
Lodge has benefited from the close attention and connection she receives from her professors, including Dr. Anne MacMaster, associate professor of English.
“I truly appreciate Dr. MacMaster’s enthusiasm in the classroom and the broadness of her knowledge of English literature. She expresses genuine interest in hearing her student’s perspectives in the classroom, providing a great space for engaging with my classmates and the course materials.”
Lodge has also deepened her love for teaching through education courses taught by Dr. Stacy DeZutter, associate professor of education.
“Her enthusiasm and knowledge of education encouraged me to grasp even the most difficult but fundamental learning concepts, like classroom management and assessing the mindset of students,” Lodge said.
Lodge’s dedication to her pursuit of a career in education was also recognized recently when she was awarded the Mary Sue Enochs Lewis Award, which is presented to a rising Millsaps senior planning to enter the teaching profession.
“It was a surprise, but I’m so honored to have received this award,” Lodge said.
After she graduates, Lodge plans to pursue a career in secondary education as an English teacher. She also plans to stay close to Jackson.
“My connection to Jackson has grown stronger since coming to Millsaps. I want to do more and make it better by preparing students to be able to write and think critically.”