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Ben Poggemiller
Completed: University 1
Faculty: 5th year, Arts
Pursuing: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
When Ben Poggemiller first entered the University of Manitoba, he was dead set on learning computer programming, networking and theory.
“I’d heard that the University of Manitoba had a great computer science program, so I didn’t even consider another school.”
Today, Ben is a 5th year Arts student and English major, a significant change from his original vision.
“After being asked, on a volunteer basis, to write a couple of articles for the Manitoban,
I realized that I really liked to write. Since I also enjoyed reading, I decided I wanted to make reading and writing my career and switched faculties to become an English
major.”
Ben now considers the English department his second home, and the faculty his extended family.
“I know a lot of my professors quite well and don’t feel awkward about hanging out and chatting with any of them.”
Ben’s experience is that of many students who attend the U of M and who realize quickly that the campus may be big, but the predominant culture of support and collegiality reduces that size to something far more personal.
“Your profs genuinely want you to do well and will help you in any way they can.”
When not in the department of English, Ben can often be found hanging around the office of the Manitoban, the University of Manitoba’s student newspaper, where he is an editor.
He has written for the culture section of The Manitoban for three years, penning close to 150 articles for the paper.
These days, Ben has more than English and writing on his mind however. He is engaged to be married next June. After the wedding, he and his wife plan to head overseas to teach English for a year before returning to Canada to first pursue his Master’s degree and eventually his PhD at the University of Manitoba.
“My goal is to come back to Winnipeg to start a family and (hopefully) teach at the U of M.”
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