The Cougar's Byte

Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: Features

Maureen Peterson was intrigued by writing at a young age. "I was interested in the stories found in songs. I would write songs and sing them to my younger brothers. They enjoyed that a lot." Raised in Bronx, New York, Peterson grew up in the era prior to The Beatles' arrival in America. She enjoyed the stories told through song by musical artists, such as Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers. Peterson attended Cathedral High School in the Bronx for two years before her family relocated to New Jersey, where she graduated from Sparta High School. At the age of 22, she returned to the Bronx for an office job in Manhattan. While commuting to work as a litigation secretary, Peterson attended Pace University in Lower-Manhattan. "I majored in English. I would work at the law office during the day and I would attend classes at Pace in the evening. I obtained two years of credits, but life got in the way, and I was unable to complete my degree." At the age of 29, Peterson returned to the Garden State. After three years of commuting from Budd Lake to work in Manhattan, she decided to work in New Jersey. As a paralegal, Peterson did not stray from her joy. "I was able to write through all those years; even though it was legal/business writing, I was glad to write."

Peterson went on to graduate with honors from Raritan Valley Community College with an associates degree in paralegal studies, but her studies were not complete. "I wanted to continue my education, and when I thought about colleges, Kean University was the best fit for me. I liked that it was located in an urban environment, and I liked that it was amenable to students who wish to take evening classes." Arriving at Kean as an English major with an option in writing for the fall 2007 semester, Peterson has taken primarily writing and literature courses. She finds value in all coursework, saying, "Everything teaches me, and everything moves me up a notch towards my goal." Her dedicated approach has not gone un-noticed; Peterson has accrued a 3.9 GPA, she is being inducted into the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta. Peterson received the Estelle Ritchie Endowed Scholarship for English for the 2008/2009 school year and was honored for receiving it at the English department's first annual awards ceremony. In the spring of 2008, one of Peterson's short stories, entitled "Startling Relief", was published in "Creation Space", Kean University's literary magazine.

Peterson will soon be utilizing all of her literary skills and experience in a large-scale project. "In my senior seminar class, I will be writing what will become a published book. It will be a nonfiction book about overcoming sociological issues. Basically, it will be about the oppression of any group that is subordinated from the mainstream." Although the book is still in the planning stages, Peterson has already established the manner in which it will read. "I want my non-fiction book to be a page-turner. I want it to be friendly and readable, so the public can enjoy it and learn from it at the same time."

Peterson is excited to see what writing opportunities the future will hold. "I will probably spend some time writing fiction, most likely shorter pieces that I will submit to magazines. I also see myself writing for the op-ed page of a newspaper. In my time here at Kean, I want to learn the professional skills that will allow me to write in different outlets." In the meantime, she will continue to serve the campus community as a member of the Council for Part-Time Students, for which she served as board secretary for the 2008-2009 academic year. As bookstore shelves and newsstand racks wait for her future projects, Peterson will keep the pages turning in the right direction.

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