First-generation student publishes poetry book 'A Black Girl's Truth': Destiny Gilchrist, '22
Destiny Gilchrist, who is graduating with a double major in Creative Writing and English, is the recipient of the SBS Student Success Award in fall 2022, which is given to a graduating senior who is a first-generation college student. Destiny's love of reading started in kindergarten when she picked up Clifford the Big Red Dog for the first time. During high school, she decided she wanted to be an author as her career, and on November 30, 2022, her book of poetry, A Black Girl’s Truth, was published by Austin Macauley Publishers. "I knew that the first piece that I put out into the world had to be related to poetry and it had to be about my experience growing up as a colored woman," Destiny said. " I wanted to share experiences that I know that other people can see themselves in because a lot of the poems are raw and truthful."
English Professor Paul Hurh said publishing a book is "an amazing achievement for an undergraduate."