David Monds ’30 grew up with a wild imagination. From fierce characters to mysterious worlds, he was always thinking of ideas for a thrilling story.
He often kept these ideas to himself.
“I never really put anything down (on paper) because I was never that confident about my writing,” Monds says.
It wasn’t until a creative writing class during his senior year that he began taking his childhood hobby more seriously. When his teacher praised his writing, he became more sure about his talent.
During his college search, Monds looked for a place that would continue to foster his talent and help him achieve his dream of becoming an author.
He was drawn to Trinity University because its English program would help him sharpen his skills in creative writing, critical thinking, communication, and textual analysis in a small-class setting where he’d be mentored by expert faculty.
Trinity’s English major also connects naturally with other humanities fields, and Monds is excited to be immersed in these different subjects.
“I’ve always loved the more open-ended pursuit of knowledge,” he says.
Along with majoring in English, Monds also wants to pursue a major in business, and he appreciates how Trinity’s liberal arts curriculum is flexible enough for him to do both.
Though he is excited for this academic path, his younger self wouldn’t have expected him to enter college as an aspiring author. Monds comes from an athletic family; both of his parents played basketball and have coached the sport.
For a while, he followed in their footsteps. He played basketball throughout high school, until an injury forced him to stop playing during his senior year.
It was emotional telling his coach and parents that he wasn’t going to play anymore. Basketball is a family legacy, and it was hard for Monds to comprehend that he wouldn’t be able to contribute to it. Still, he knew that it was the right decision.
Moving on from the sport, Monds had more free time to chase what he was even more passionate about. “I've always loved reading more than basketball,” he says.
Though he was initially unsure how his parents would react to his wanting to be an author, they were very supportive, instilling Monds with more confidence as he prepares to pursue that dream at Trinity.
He is thinking about joining clubs on campus to support his dream, such as a creative writing club or the Dungeons and Dragons club. Ultimately, he is entering Trinity with enthusiasm, eager to craft his next story: his college journey.
Editor's Notes: In the above image, Monds poses in front of the Trinity University sign during his visit to campus on Tiger Friday.