Alex

Jackson

Alex Jackson spent his summer and a large portion of the school year pouring over science fiction novels, movies, and video games. Why? To understand post-apocalyptic human nature: how humans behave "normally" and how this changes in light of catastrophic events. "I'm interested in morality...the choices human beings make after a catastrophe. In the event of an apocalypse, do we unite and rebuild what has been broken or do we become, violent, evil, do good men go bad?"

Trauma theory and resilience are central themes throughout his research: what drives a person to keep going when their world has been turned upside down and why this varies throughout the human race.

Jackson does not take the ongoing support and encouragement from his supervisor lightly: writing an 80-120 page thesis is no picnic, but having a constant source of back-up and inspiration can make it not only manageable, but fun. He has also received a lot of feedback and assistance from other faculties, which he attributes to the close, friendly relations between Lakehead departments.

Jackson feels fortunate to be employed as a GA, which he says is an opportunity "pretty much guaranteed" for every English master's student at Lakehead. On the side, he is highly involved as Editor-in-Chief for the Artery, Lakehead's popular literary magazine.

His education has presented a world of opportunities: Jackson could see himself pursuing employment as an editor, a columnist, or a professor. He emphasizes that the need for English majors is huge. "There's a dramatic need for people who can write, who can talk, who can communicate in way that is effective... an MA in English offers this and so much more."