A day in the life of an English student: Jon Schnake

As an aspiring writer and freelance disc jockey, ECU senior Jon Schnake leads an exciting life. Schnake is pursuing his Bachelor of Arts degree in English, but in his spare time he does freelance writing, graphic design and works as a DJ for weddings and private parties.

Originally from Tampa, Fla., Schnake moved to North Carolina with his parents when he was 12 years old. He moved to Greenville, N.C. from Cary in 2003.

Schnake is graduating from ECU in May and plans to return to ECU for graduate school after six months when he will then pursue a master's in English.

English was an ideal degree for Schnake who not only enjoys the subject himself but also has a history of English professionals in his family.

"My grandmother taught English for 30 years," said Schnake. "As a result, it's always been my best subject. I love to read and write, so English just seemed like a perfect fit when I chose my major."

Schnake's weekly routine is a busy one.

"While I might not be taking that many credit hours, my classes are challenging," Schnake said. "My days are stacked around class, work and gym time. Everything else takes a back seat during the week."

On Mondays and Fridays, Schnake takes German 4 at 10 a.m. and public speaking at 2 p.m. before he heads off to work at 6 p.m.

On Saturdays, Schnake catches up on homework and studying.

"Saturdays are also usually gym days, but sometimes we switch to Sundays, depending on the workload that my fellow lifting partners and I are experiencing," Schnake said.

On Saturday nights, Schnake is usually at Dr. Unks, a local pool hall, or at a friend's house.

In his spare time, Schnake writes fiction.

"I'm heavily influenced by Orson Scott Card," Schnake said. "I write science fiction and Lovecraft-influenced meta-fiction. I want to get something published someday that a lot of people can grasp, relate to and share with their friends."

"Jon is a really good writer," said graduate student and current teacher of English 1200, Kathryn Manning. "He's an even better friend. His off-beat sense of humor can always make me laugh."

This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.