Serena Johnson ’26
Johnson credits Department of English with self-confidence, career readiness
A self-proclaimed writer and lover of stories, there was never a doubt in Serena Johnson’s mind that she wanted to be an English major. She harkens it back to fifth grade when she read The Hunger Games for the first time.
“I was so obsessively, deeply in love with those characters, and it consumed my whole world,” Johnson says. “At each age, I’ve found a new version of that experience.”
A similar experience of connection is why Johnson claims she’ll “always sing the praises of the English department.” A small major at a big school, English offered Johnson an opportunity to connect with peers, faculty and the stories they read together in a way that she didn’t expect.
“The English department has been such a lovely, wonderful bubble at Clemson,” Johnson says, citing the small classes, dedicated professors and classroom environment. “Conversation is encouraged, but so is safe space. It’s this very close-knit bond, and such an unusual environment for a college classroom, but I think it has been one of the most meaningful.”
Though confident in her choice of major, Johnson was initially hesitant on a specific career path. Law was an option, but not her only interest. The uncertainty didn’t faze her.
“I knew that even if I didn’t end up going into law, English is so versatile that it’d be a good option no matter what I do with it later,” she says.
Johnson’s Clemson Experience has reflected the benefit of versatility. As a brand communications minor, Johnson often found that the close reading and critical thinking skills she used to analyze texts seamlessly translated into her branding projects.
“Brand communications is a really good combination with English, especially with copywriting and advertising,” Johnson says. “There are so many paths you can take it down. And they always need a writer!”
Johnson also gained hands-on experience with client work through the Pearce Center for Professional Communication, working with multiple clients on a variety of media and editorial projects. She worked as an assistant editor on the South Carolina Review literary magazine, getting real-world experience in publishing.
On track to graduate earlier than expected, Johnson added a creative writing minor halfway through her college career. The classes quickly reminded Johnson why she chose to study English in the first place.
“In the throes of academic burnout and things like that, I lost the big picture,” she explains, recalling the overwhelmingly supportive experience of having other people read her fiction writing. “That was such a tangible reminder of why I chose this major. I was reminded how much I enjoy it and how at the heart it is of what I want to do.”
Her dedication to writing earned Johnson the 2026 Phi Kappa Phi Certificate of Merit from the College of Arts and Humanities.
Whether she’s teaching, researching or writing in the future, there is one thing Johnson hopes to keep front and center: the community-building experience of storytelling.
“Stories are so powerful,” she says. “They have the ability not just to unite us but to make the world feel small and relatable, especially when we have access to so much information on our phones. Stories remind us of our humanity.”
FUN FACT: Johnson’s Clemson Journey isn’t over; she is staying in Tigertown to pursue a Master of Arts in English.
