A penned passion

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From ivy-covered stone of Western’s Gothic buildings to iridescent jewelry, Gray Brogden’s creativity is sparked by beautiful things. An outpouring of emotion, her poetry is eloquent and enduring – fitting of a student who has flourished at the campus she happily calls home.

“I tell people that I’m like a fish – I love shiny objects,” Gray quips with a winning smile. “I’ve sat on benches and in gardens on campus, madly typing poems on my phone because it’s just so pretty.”

Gray’s fervent passion for writing began when she was growing up in Regina, Saskatchewan. With dreams of becoming a novelist and authoring the next great romantic comedy, she was able to start projects with ease but couldn’t remain committed to completing them. An aspiration to write music like one of her idols – Taylor Swift – also didn’t come naturally.

After her family moved to Sudbury, Ontario, it was in her tenth-grade English class that Gray finally found an outlet for her creativity. While studying a unit about poetry and viewing a spoken-word performance, Gray felt a spark ignite, and she began reading and writing poetry.

“Poetry is short and quick. You don’t have to develop a full plot, so it felt very achievable. I love that when I feel inspired to write, I can enjoy an instant sense of accomplishment because I have created something tangible.”

When it came to picking a university, Gray was drawn to Western for the opportunity to pursue English literature and writing studies alongside studying in the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities (SASAH), which provides high-achieving students the opportunity to pursue a double major.

Now a fourth-year student, Gray has taken full advantage of opportunities to grow as a writer and to graduate with many valuable experiences. Several of the extracurricular programs and services she has accessed are unique to the Western experience and have set her up for success inside and outside the classroom.

“I joined five clubs in my first year! I may have overloaded myself,” she says with a laugh. “Campus clubs exposed me to so many opportunities to get my work published. Of my 30 publication credits, more than half of those are through Western. Those achievements and activities have really enhanced my resume.”

After successful elections for the Arts & Humanities Student Council (AHSC), Gray represented the English department in her second year at Western and served as Vice-President of Academics in her third year. In the 2023-24 academic year, she is serving as the AHSC’s Vice-President of Events.

This fall, one of Gray’s dreams came true when she began her new role as Western’s Student Writer-in-Residence. The innovative program provides support for an accomplished undergraduate student while other students benefit from the writer’s creativity, expertise and organizational skills.

As current president of the creative writing club Penned by Western, Gray is also enthusiastic to promote it and encourage students to bond over the power of language.

Gray believes that writing is a community event rather than a solitary activity. Motivated by fellow writers, her creative process includes sharing her work with friends for constructive feedback. For Gray, this practice deepens skills and forges meaningful connections.

“There’s a reason that we’ve had so many struggling artists throughout history – we need to talk to each other!” Gray laughs. “The social aspects of writing – joining writing groups, submitting to publications and attending launch parties – aren’t just about networking. They’re about growing together as artists.”

Gray’s poetry is emotionally honest and mainly focuses on themes of love and relationships. She craves the “evocative and vulnerable” experience of spoken word performances. “I love performing my poetry. When someone approaches me afterwards and describes a connection with something I’ve said, it feels incredible. I know that we’ve experienced something together.”

In 2023, Gray submitted her poetry for consideration in Western donor-funded award competitions. To her delight, she was the winning recipient of the Marguerite R. Dow Canadian Heritage Award and the Lillian Kroll Prize in Creative Writing – both of which boosted her confidence as a poet.

“I am so grateful to the donors who not only provided me with some much-needed funding as a student, but also the validation that came with receiving those awards. I work very hard as a student-writer, and they made me feel that I’m on the right path. Plus, my parents were so proud of me.”

Donors to the Western Fund help support the university’s greatest needs. Beyond providing financial assistance for students like Gray, the Western Fund supports experiential learning opportunities, clubs and teams, robust sports and recreation programs and vital physical and mental health supports. Gray says that making those services accessible for students who are navigating a new environment at school is key to their wellbeing and success.

“When students arrive on campus, many of us feel lost. Moving away from home is a massive life change, and I’ve seen many students struggle. Having those high quality supports right on campus, so we don’t have to seek those services on our own is so important.”

After making a comfortable home at Western during her undergraduate studies, Gray is still exploring her next steps in the coming year – whether it be graduate school or jumping into a career. “I have my sights set on a few creative writing graduate programs across the country,” she says.

Gray credits her tight bonds to family and friends as guideposts that inspire her as she makes her mark at Western, and as she continues to write her story beyond the university.

“I really value my relationships,” says Gray. “I’m very close with my parents and my brother. I’ve also made some lifelong friends here at Western. I can’t wait to see what’s next!”