Emma Gauthier has had a way with words since she was 18 months old. Her speech came at an early age followed by an early interest in reading, taught by her mother. Her parents were impressed with how quickly she learned. The next milestone in Gauthier’s early childhood development, however, is what sets her apart. 

        When she learned how to write, Gauthier’s passion for

making words flow in such a way that captivates a reader’s

attention was ignited. Her newfound talent carried her into

elementary school, when in third grade her English teacher

inspired her to think of writing more like a hobby than an

assignment. Gauthier won her first writing contest in fifth

grade. The prompt was to submit a scary story in spirit of

the Halloween season. Her piece was in the local newspaper

and Gauthier got her first glimpse as to what being published

felt like. 

       “It was the first time I knew I wanted to see my name in

print again,” she said. “It was an incredible feeling.” 

      She continued by bringing her talents to her high school’s

newspaper, where she began as a staff writer, worked her way

up to news editor, then eventually web editor. The newspaper

had been in a slump until her and a few classmates revamped

it. It was then that she realized seeing her name on the byline

was the first glimpse into a career as a writer. Her academic

career later narrowed down to becoming a journalism major at

the University of Rhode Island, where she fell into a spot as a contributor at the school’s paper, “The Good 5₵ Cigar.” Again, she then worked her way up to a news editor, then web editor. Gauthier is the youngest editor at the paper as a sophomore, and encourages students who share her love for writing to join the Cigar team to see what reporting is really like.                              

 

      It’s still early to decide exactly what she wants to do after graduation, according to Gauthier, but pictures herself doing something along the lines of web editing at a well-known news site such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, or Buzzfeed. While she loves writing and reporting, she also takes joy in editing because she’s learned to effectively coach others on how to improve their work. She excels as an editor because she knows what it’s like to be a writer trying to get published. You end up overthinking your work, doubting yourself, and therefore miscommunicating your message. As an editor at the Cigar, she serves as a fresh pair of eyes and constructively criticizes submitted stories. As a result, Gauthier takes pride in helping improve a writer’s technique. 

     She takes solace knowing that being a writer, which she claims is the most integral part of her personality, can double as a career. It’s never seemed like a chore to Gauthier, but rather a unique form of self-expression that relaxes and comforts her. 

    “Writing is like an art. So instead of painting my feelings, I’d just go home and write it out,” says Gauthier. 

     Her talent as a writer translates into being a better communicator as well. Her extensive vocabulary radiates while she speaks, making the listener feel as if she’s intent on sending a message. Writing has become such an integral part of herself, it comes across in every aspect of her day-to-day life.