What distinguishes the week is its rare synthesis of intellectual challenge and shared enjoyment. Each day was shaped by rigorous presentations delivered by scholars whose clarity, insight, and interpretive depth far exceeded anything I had previously encountered. Yet the formal sessions were only one part of the experience. The small discussion groups proved equally significant. These gatherings allowed participants from a wide range of backgrounds – retirees, graduate students, educators, and undergraduates like myself – to work through our ideas collaboratively. I felt welcomed as a full participant, not merely a student observing more advanced scholars. This sense of inclusion strengthened my confidence in my own academic abilities and heightened my excitement for future study. 

Beyond the classroom, the Universe’s camp-like setup strengthened the kinship I forged with my fellow attendees. The evening programming was definitely a highlight for me; I loved going to the late-night film screenings. I also appreciated the nightly student gatherings, which really helped me get to know my peers. As one of the few undergraduates at the Universe, and especially as a community college student, befriending graduate students has already proven to be invaluable: I’ve gained awareness of the many humanities opportunities in higher education, and even received advice about transferring. Best of all, having a network of peers at universities across the country has helped me imagine my own future in academia. 

I came to the Dickens Universe without a clear idea of what field I wanted to pursue after transferring, but studying The Old Curiosity Shop in such unprecedented depth, alongside people whose enthusiasm for literature matched mine made it unmistakably clear that I want to continue exploring English and literature. The experience revealed how profoundly rewarding this kind of sustained, collective inquiry into a text can be. 

Carissa C. received the 2025 Dickens Universe Community College Scholarship and attended the Universe with her faculty mentor, Professor Jessica Groper, from Glendale Community College.