Hello! My name is Lani Wo, and I am about to graduate from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) with a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in both Professional Writing and Publishing and Creative Writing.
My time, classes, and projects at UIC have honed my professional writing, and my work experience in customer service positions has reinforced my interpersonal communication and collaborative skills. I work well and confidently under pressure and am always seeking challenges that offer me the chance to grow and expand my knowledge.
I fell in love with reading when I was seven and first picked up my copy of The Sorcerer’s Stone. It opened my eyes to worlds I didn’t know existed and inspired a passion for writing and for exploring my own fantasies. I first became interested in the publishing and editing industries in middle school, when a teacher commented that I might enjoy helping others develop their own writing.
Growing up, it was hard for me to feel connected to those around me. As an Asian-American kid in mostly white environments, finding people and communities I could relate to was hard. I turned to books to find characters like me, and it’s important to me to make sure others have that representation as well. I am especially interested in diversity and community in writing.