STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Eileen Burnett brings passion to the page
Many times life has a different plan than the one you have. For literature master’s Eileen Burnett, life included having three kids before completing her bachelor’s degree.
UHCL has run various programs for Hispanic Heritage Month. To kick off the festivities The Office of Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted the En La Tradición De La Lotería: UHCL Lotería Phase 2 Reveal and Artist Talk. Eileen was fortunate enough to have her poem featured prominently on the Loteria that represents the Writing Center.
“I cried,” Eileen said. “That was the first piece that I had ever put out there and for my first piece that had ever been published. So that to have been something that somebody wants to do art with it, and have it memorialized like that I was very honored.”
Eileen’s poem, chosen to represent the Writing Center, was first published in the first issue of the writing center’s publication “First Flight.”
“I didn’t even think it would be published,” Burnett said. “But I knew I had to try. I have been told both in my head and by others that I didn’t have the value. So I had to do this I had to try and break free of those constraints that held me back for far too long.”
Eileen has had various other works published including “Kintsugi” personal piece inspired by the Japanese art repair using gold to mend broken pottery. This practice inspired her to write about her own life.
“There’s their value [in healing] and knowing that you’ve gone through something, and even admitting that it might have broken you and that you gave yourself time to heal and move forward,” Burnett said. “There’s no shame in that.”
As a single mother, Eileen has sometimes struggled to continue her pursuits. She cares for three children, one of which also attends UHCL.
“I had to make decisions,” said Eileen. “Certain things become less important […]. I did go out and do things, it was work, school, the children. My family became my friends, I have a small group of friends but I took the things most important to me and focused on those. I didn’t pursue those things that would not benefit my children in their livelihood.”
In addition to Eileen’s love for writing, she shares a love of music and video games. Burnett has a garden where she grows tomatoes, onions and various other plants. Eileen also hosts a chicken coop with roughly 14 chickens.
“A little-known fact about me is that I basically live in a library,” Eileen said. “Not an actual library, of course, but a library nonetheless. I sleep between two bookshelves, and there are bookshelves in every room of my house. Every. Room. Books are everywhere, even piled up on the floor.”
Eileen recommends some video games that might be less known to most: Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth, Rimworld, Terraria, Frostpunk, A Plague Tale: Innocence, Enderal and Portal.
Eileen now seeks to complete her master’s in literature and hopes to inspire others in their efforts in higher education.
“You are never too old to start anything,” Burnett said. “I’m not really that you know I’m just a person, who just decided I wanted to do something different and encourage my kids, but I really respect all the people that are going here trying to make something of their lives, no matter what they are doing. I think that whoever reads this, especially for the older people who might be discouraged need to know, we just got years, even if you just started what are we going to be doing in a year? Still this. Whether you finished or not it’s one more class you could take one more step towards the degree. “
