Meet Cyreine Adams ’26

Where are you from and what is your background?
I was raised in the iconic suburbia: Orange County, California. For all its allures, I was eager to break out of that bubble. After migrating north to chase a bachelor's degree in Literature at the University of California Santa Cruz, somehow I ended up with two degrees in Legal Studies and Politics. Now, Santa Cruz has been my home for the past eight years.

Why did you apply for this graduate program and decide to study at USF?
I began applying to MFA programs with the intention to focus more seriously on my writing. I was tired of my writing taking the backseat-I wanted to eat, breath and sleep as a writer and if not now, then when?

USF's Master of Fine Arts in Writing program was immediately appealing because it's in the Bay Area and even better — in the heart of San Francisco. There's a lot of pressure to move when you're applying to graduate programs. Many people see graduate school as an opportunity to travel and find adventure. I think that's great but, for me, I wanted to stay close to my community and explore another part of Northern California.

The application process confirmed that USF was the right choice. I never felt left behind or overwhelmed which is frequently common with graduate school applications. Everyone at USF seemed to genuinely care about my success and application. When I received my acceptance letter I was beyond excited.

What impacts has the Dean's Scholarship had on your ability to further your studies?
Graduate school is a huge financial decision. Receiving the Dean's Scholarship helped me feel confident that I would be able to support myself during the program. Additionally, it's a huge honor to be awarded this scholarship. As a first generation graduate student, I would like to pass along the message to anyone struggling with imposter syndrome that you belong here and you have what it takes.

What are your career ambitions?
I've been in academics for a long time, as a student as well as an educator. I love studying politics and I don't think I'll ever be able to take my eye fully off of history or political research. One amazing thing about USF's nonfiction writing program is that I don't have to choose between both loves. I feel confident that this program will advance my career in many applicable forms. As of now, I am pursuing a position in print journalism.

What is something unique or interesting about you?
I used to lead five day horse trips for kids in the Rockies. I've seen a lot of crazy things but once after heavy rains, our pack horse (and one of my favorite horses) sunk into a bog crossing a muddy field. To make things better, some weather was rolling in and we ended up digging her out with a hand trowel in a lightning storm.