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Hi! My name is Lindsey Aprahamian, and I am junior at the University of Michigan. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in writing. I am from Rockland County, New York – where I spend holidays and summers with my family – but am grateful to call the beautiful Ann Arbor my second home.

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From a very young age, I remember twirling around the kitchen in my ballet slippers while my mother gasped, thinking I'd fall and hit my head. Growing up in a dance studio, I was constantly surrounded by strong women whom I looked up to. Though each and every one of my dance teachers influenced me in some way, I will never forget my high school ballet teacher Michelle. Her “tough love” philosophy constantly pushed me to challenge myself and become a better dancer. And though I no longer train as seriously as I once did, my dance company on campus brings me the same sense of community as my dance studio did throughout my upbringing. 

 

 

 

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When I decided to attend the University of Michigan, I knew how athletically (and academically) renowned the school is; but I never expected it to impact me as profoundly as it has. I’d never really been a sports fan before college, and I attended football games my freshman year as a formality. I enjoyed dressing up in Michigan gear for tailgates and partaking in Michigan chants at The Big House. But living in a college town where people bleed maize and blue, I myself grew to love sports beyond the ritual game days. Never did I think I'd stand in line at 6 AM for a basketball wristband or leave Thanksgiving dinner in New York to fly back for the Ohio State football game . . . Michigan certainly changed me. So, my background as a dancer and my love for sports converged, one might say. I joined a student organization for women empowerment in sport and entertainment, and I discovered a prospective career path that combined my passion for writing and communicating with my love for sports. 

 

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In choosing an artifact of origin for this semester’s writing gateway course, I immediately recalled something I’d created in Communications 101 my very first semester at college. For a final writing assignment, we were tasked with dissecting some aspect of pop culture using our knowledge from the course. It was December 2018, and Ariana Grande’s thank u, next music video was trending. Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to use it in a final project. I evaluated how Ariana Grande’s music video pushed back against negative media discourses surrounding her image after her Manchester concert tragedy, engagement, and Nickelodeon career. This January, when I revisited the piece in preparation for the writing gateway, I thought there was no better way to approach the topic of female empowerment than by using it to amplify the stories of those around me – including myself.

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This semester, the minor in writing gateway afforded me an opportunity to experiment with three genres I'd never given too much thought to: open letters, photo essays, and podcasts. Each experiment forced me to think critically about what I wanted my audience to take from it and introduce it accordingly. The experiments also allowed me to research the genre's conventions and sketch the experiment as a fully realized project. In creating just a sample of these sketches, I was able to explore each genre in depth and reflect on my experience doing so. 

 

After writing my grandmother's photo essay as a sample for experiment 2, I felt a sense of urgency to complete the series for my final delivery. I wanted to tell my mother's and younger sister's story. Experienced in this order, the photo essays are meant to encompass a story of female empowerment as a generational one.

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So, this website is a way for me to make stylistic choices in showcasing my genre exploration. I hope that you take a tour and see the people, the places, and the experiences that inspire me. Thanks for stopping by!