Student Profile Series - Elizabeth Mercado

The English Department presents Elizabeth Mercado (she/her/hers), she is an English Major (Creating Writing Emphasis) with a Film Studies Minor.

What is your favorite memory at UC Davis?

My sophomore year, about a dozen fellow interns and I planned and hosted the Davis Feminist Film Festival. The day of the festival, there was a moment where a handful of other interns and I sat on the ground at the very back of the Veteran's Memorial theater. Watching close to 200 people experience a set of films together was an incredible culmination of five months worth of work, and I felt so proud of myself and the amazing women I'd gotten the privilege to work with.

What is a must-read for an English major?

Sleep by Haruki Murakami. Exchanging short stories between friends or peers sort of feels like exchanging gifts. Even if it's not a lifetime favorite, Sleep is one of many short stories I'm glad I read, if anything, because it feels like a new trading card my friend gave me that now I can gift to anyone who asks. Student Profile Series - Elizabeth Mercado

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Ten years from now maybe I'll have given the east coast a shot and decided whether or not it's for me. I'll be writing movies or TV shows that seem like good ideas in my head and hopefully are in practice. I like to think I'll be dressing a lot better than I am now.

What are you passionate about?

I'm passionate about creating something I'm proud of. I write scripts and stories in order to be understood and achieve the universal through the specific, but I love that writing tests my own capacity to connect with people I don't relate to in the same way I'm hoping to widen that capacity for others.

What do you like to do in your free time to unwind?

Since I moved back home I love going on walks with my mom again. I've happily signed away so much of my free time to watching TikToks. I also love having weekly movie nights with my friends over Zoom except it feels I'm running out of franchises to watch.

If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be?

Hometown

What makes you proud to be an English major?

I'm proud of the validity of each student's opinion is given within the major. Every essay or discussion section is an opportunity to practice advocating for your perspective with the idea that "Yes, this story or character can be transformed or interpreted this new way. Say more." Over four years, being encouraged to defend a literary position has helped build my confidence as a writer and thinker.

If you had one wish for the English Department/Community here on campus...what would it be?

My favorite essay I wrote in any English class was a final four-page paper for ENL 144. I hope the department continues to consider final or midterm assignments that aren't strictly the 6-10 page research paper. The opportunity I had to just wax poetic about a short story I loved analyzing was a welcome refresher for how studying literature can be fun.

Student Profile Series - Elizabeth Mercado