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����AV senior Katarina Benson has had five different majors throughout her college career. “Choosing what to study [was] very difficult for me, because so many fields interest me,” said Benson, who transferred from Delaware Valley University.��

Benson, who grew up in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, previously majored in agribusiness, film and video, among other subjects before choosing and completing an degree with a concentration in cultural studies.��

“I’ve always loved reading and English was my favorite subject in middle school, so I eventually found my way back to where I was supposed to be,” said Benson, who is in the ��

Benson wore many hats during her time at George Mason including editor-in-chief of , a peer reviewer on the photography and the poetry and prose teams for , a member of the George Mason’s chapter of the , and a buddy in the . ��

Benson took advantage of George Mason’s study-abroad opportunities in summer 2024 by attending the University of Galway in Ireland for four weeks for the International Summer School where she took two classes, “Representing Ireland: Literature and Film” and “The Archaeological Heritage of Ireland.” Learn more about her study-abroad experience.����

She also worked as an editorial assistant to the university’s Mason Spirit magazine and as a public relations student coordinator in George Mason’s .��

What’s your best memory of George Mason?��

I have so many good memories from the past few years but I’ll always remember when my family came to visit for Homecoming 2023. My dad, brother, and I spent the morning together making waffles in my dorm kitchen and then we went to the tailgate. George Mason men’s basketball won, and it was a really great game! I’m really close with my family and Homecoming was a great opportunity to enjoy George Mason together.��

How have you grown while at George Mason?��

George Mason and specifically our English Department, is one of the most welcoming and diverse communities I’ve ever been a part of. The understanding and accepting space they’ve given me has allowed me to truly explore my interests and identity. I have learned so much about myself over the past few years because of the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met at George Mason. ��

Best piece of advice for incoming students?��

Don’t limit yourself. I’ve tried so many new things that I've unexpectedly loved! One of my favorite experiences was going abroad, and I didn’t know if that was something I felt fully comfortable doing until I took the risk and went anyway. I had an amazing time and highly recommend just going for whatever it is that you may want to do! ��

What’s next for you?��

I’m taking a gap year and freelance writing. Then most likely going to graduate school. I plan on getting a master’s in something English-related; it’ll probably end up being either cultural studies, literature, or library science.