Polina Potochevska
Polina is a senior who is majoring in English and Creative Writing and minoring in Russian Studies and 
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Coming to Brandeis, she knew that she was interested in literature and wanted to dig deeper into these topics. Polina is currently working on a Senior Honors Thesis that is focused on women in nineteenth century novels who are avid readers and examines how their reading habits impact their lives. She decided on this topic after taking the course “All In The Family” with Professor Robin Feuer Miller and reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy for the second time in one of Professor Miller’s classes. She came to realize what a great impact Anna Karenina has had on her understanding of life, love, and reading in general. Polina says that the process of writing a thesis has taught her a lot about why reading is essential to human existence, and it has been a very enlightening experience so far.
Polina is also one of the Editors-in-Chief of The Brandeis Hoot, and she describes the past year as a whirlwind and a huge learning experience for the staff. She is proud to be a member of this newspaper and to help spread important information, insightful opinion pieces, student features, and more to the Brandeis community. Next year, Polina will be attending the Publishing and Writing Master’s Program at Emerson College. Writing a book is also on her bucket list! Her main book recommendation for the year is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.