Galilea Galvan Juarez

Writing Center Consultant

Galilea (Gah-lil-lay-ah) is a Studio Art major (with a Concentration in Experimental Studies) and a Spanish minor. She’s been part of the Writing Center since last Fall, and enjoys working there as a Bilingual consultant.

As an art student, she loves painting and drawing, even when she “hates it.” Making art is the bane of her existence and the reason she lives and breathes. It's just devastatingly lovely! When she’s not cursing at a piece, she enjoys reading and listening to (dramatized) audiobooks, scrolling down on BookTok and writing for herself. Her current favorite book is Powerless by Lauren Roberts and her favorite movies are Before Sunrise and Dead Poets Society. She also loves listening to Taylor Swift. Her favorite album of hers is Evermore and her favorite era is undoubtedly Red.

A Conversation with Galilea

What do you like about working at the Writing Center?

What I love about working at the Writing Center is the wholesome and welcoming environment it creates for everyone who steps in. It is a space that makes me feel truly comfortable. I like how sensory-friendly and aesthetically pleasing it is. But what I like most is the people I work with. I'm surrounded by great consultants (and a wonderful director) who really enjoy what they do. It's nice being able to see it every day and being part of something like that.

What are some of your favorite things to do in Writing Center sessions?

One of my favorite things is getting to meet new writers and having the opportunity to learn about their writing perspectives. I love how varied, diverse and versatile writing styles are. Everyone devotes their own essence when putting words down on paper, and to me, that is incredibly interesting and unique.

Tell us about your writing process, especially when writing gets hard.

What I like to remind writers during our sessions is that writing is like climbing up the stairs. The final destination might look overwhelming, and it might seem impossible to get that far. Instead of focusing on the whole picture, I like to concentrate on what’s within reach, the things we can control. Breaking down the assignment into sections usually helps, and eventually things start to slowly build up. Little by little, step by step, progress takes place even if we're unable to see it. We can worry about the final version later, once it's time. For now, we can focus on what’s present.

What's a writing project you're working on right now?

I really enjoy writing short stories that will never see the light of day and no one else but myself will ever read. 🙂 On a more serious note, it seems like this semester I'll be working on my artist statement, project abstract and statement of intent/portfolio for (art) grad school! Wish me luck!

Why did you choose your major?

When I arrived in this country, I experienced language barriers that prevented me from communicating and conveying human emotion. As a result, art became my passion and the most valuable form of expression I could wield. Art has allowed me to feel complete, and understood, capable of accomplishing extraordinary things. It has given me a purpose, a route to find my voice. Being creative is what I enjoy most, and I aspire to put my passion into practice. I want to advocate for other people who may also have difficulties expressing themselves. Creativity is a conduct, a way to channel what we need to. That is why I believe art is so essential, not only because it can nurture our human identity and creative spirit, but also because it has the ability to go beyond any language and any barrier.

What has been your favorite course?

One of my favorite courses has been English 2326: Introduction to Literature with professor Littlejohn! She is the sweetest person ever. The assignments for the class were so creative and the Taylor Swift references are something that I still treasure even to this day!