Meet Megan Harris M.

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Megan Harris M.. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Megan below.

Megan, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

As many creatives know, it can be a bit difficult to find our exact purpose in life. Growing up, all I wanted to do was create, whether creating beautiful visual art or compelling works of prose and verse. Whatever the medium, I just wanted to create. I initially saw myself attending art school in New York and majoring in fashion design, and everything I did at that time was moving me towards this direction.

However, due to a lineup of unfortunate events, I did not make it to art school after my high school graduation. I had a nervous breakdown and in the midst of my mental collapse, I also got pregnant with my first child. I laid my dreams of becoming an artist to rest, and focused on being a mom and finding a “practical” job to support me and my son.

I finally made it to community college when I turned 25, vacillating between pre-nursing courses and English/art courses. I took several years to make myself believe that nursing was going to be the right profession for me and my children (I had two by this time). But during the middle of a Microbiology class, I finally made the decision to major in English.

While I loved literature and writing (creating), I still had no idea where I was headed with an English degree until I began my master’s in English/Creative Writing. It was then that I began (unknowingly) writing pieces of my soon-to-be memoir for my master’s thesis. By the time I received my master’s, I was tutoring students for my alma mater and publishing essays.– all of which led me to finding my ultimate purpose of helping others through my teaching and writing.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am currently a 4th-year PhD student in the English and Reading Department at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. I am diligently working towards finishing my (very) long reading list (175 books) in preparation for taking my comprehensive exams by the end of this Fall semester. My two areas of expertise will be Women-Focused Literature from 1878-the Present and Crafting Hybrid Genres. I also teach English at Morgan State while I finish my program.

My memoir, Not You, was published by Apprentice House Press last May 2024. In it, I detail the self-hatred and mental disease I battled that led me to the myriad of unhealthy decisions I made– from seeking men for self-validation to having babies outside of wedlock to “guarantee” a position of security and acceptance. My dissertation will explore rebellious women in literature (think Jig from “Hills LIke White Elephants” or Desiree in “Desiree’s Baby”)– those who’ve battled mental illness and domestic abuse in an attempt to transcend the boundaries of societal/gender expectations in order to find their freedom. I will relate these women’s tales to my own story of my former marriage and what it took for me to find peace.

I also teach English at Post University, CT and Montgomery College. MD.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1) Have faith (in yourself and in your higher power). First and foremost, I couldn’t have accomplished anything without God. He is the reason why I’m still here and able to do all that I do. My faith in God has only strengthened my confidence in myself, which is definitely needed for the creative who is serious about their craft. Having this necessary faith will allow you to remain firm in your aspirations and plans, even when the world questions your sanity (because it will!).

2) Put yourself on your desired path. Whatever ambition you plan to pursue, do your research and follow through. Find out what it will take to become an actor, writer, journalist, professional ball player, etc., and do it.. For example, When I finally realized that I wanted to teach college English and become an author. I took on an internship in teaching online courses, began my teaching career as a writing coach at my college, and joined a writer’s group in Maryland to make writing connections. And though I could make a good living now if I were to teach K-12, a full-time position at this point will take time away from my writing and PhD pursuits. Find your particular path and stay on it.

3) Don’t ever give up. However far-fetched your dream may seem, it manifested in your heart for a reason. Nothing that is truly worth your time will be an easy feat, trust me. You are guaranteed to fail if you give up, but you’re guaranteed to become successful in your craft as long as you keep going.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The number one obstacle in my life is being a single mom (again). I wouldn’t trade it for the world right now, as I made the right decision to leave my former marriage. However, it is extremely difficult to be a full-time student, teach at multiple schools (even though I love teaching), and keep up with my regular ‘mom’ duties (like cooking, grocery shopping, and taking my children to doctor/dentist/orthodontic appointments). In fact, it’s a total challenge just to get myself up every morning (I teach six days a week) when that alarm goes off and I’d just fallen asleep only two hours before.

But I keep telling myself that these circumstances are only temporary; when I finish my doctoral program, I will no longer have to steal time to take a cat nap or just take a deep, cleansing breath. Plus, I’ve learned how to give myself a pat on the back at the end of the day, whispering, “I showed up and that’s all that counts right now.”

Another strategy that helps to overcome this challenge is to be grateful that I have the health to continue handling multiple responsibilities, as well as the opportunities I’ve been given to make my academic mark in this world.

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