Hello! My name is Ava Devaud. I am a double major in Creative Writing and Behavioral Neuroscience. Serving as President of SLAB after three years on its executive board, working as an RA for the past two years, and conducting research in the Integrative Neuroscience and Behavior Lab under Dr. Steven Neese has provided me with opportunities to challenge myself, learn from others, and grow in unexpected ways.
I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to live and study abroad not once, but twice—first in London two years ago, and most recently in Barcelona this past spring. Immersing myself in these new cultures and academic environments has profoundly shaped how I see the world and my place in it. Balancing multiple passions and responsibilities can feel overwhelming at times, but I have learned that embracing challenges—whether in the humanities, the sciences, or in life offers the most meaningful growth. Cornell has provided the guidance and resources to navigate these experiences, and I am grateful for the ways it has helped me build both confidence and a strong foundation for the future.
As part of the English major—regardless of the concentration a student chooses, whether in Multimedia, Creative Writing, or Literature—students are required to take ENG 515. This course is designed to immerse English majors in the literary community, encouraging them to engage in meaningful work while reflecting on their experiences. Rebecca Entel, who supervises the adjunct course, also acts as a mentor by creating opportunities for students to connect with the literary community. She keeps an up-to-date calendar with dates, times, and locations for events that students can attend, participate in, and later reflect on. These reflections are shared with Rebecca and, eventually, with the wider Cornell community through a blog post.
As I was scrolling through the calendar for ENG 515 events, I came across the No Kings Protest. Seeing it listed felt like more than just an opportunity to fulfill a course requirement—it resonated deeply with how I see myself as an activist. For me, activism isn’t only about speaking out; it’s about showing up, walking alongside others, and contributing to something bigger than myself. Attending the protest gave me a chance to reflect on my values, my role in a community, and the ways I can act on my convictions. I chose to document the experience through photography and poetry, capturing not only what I witnessed but also how it felt to be present and engaged in that moment.
The No Kings protests took place on October 18, 2025, as part of a nationwide movement opposing Donald Trump’s policies and actions during his second term. Building on earlier protests from June 2025, the October demonstrations occurred in over 2,000 locations across the U.S., including major gatherings in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York City. I attended the protest in Chicago, Illinois, with my mother. I have participated in protests for various causes—from pro-choice and anti-ICE demonstrations to defending our democracy—because I believe it is vital for citizens to stand up for their rights. As a woman of color, born in Central America and fortunate enough to obtain citizenship, I feel a responsibility to stand up for those who cannot. I chose to reflect on this experience by writing a poem about being condemned simply because of my skin color, about wanting equality for all, and about how the fight can be exhausting, yet is sustained by the solidarity of others like me.
As a senior, I am currently applying to master’s programs in Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacology, temporarily stepping back from the humanities—but not abandoning them entirely—to pursue my passion for healthcare, a field where activism and humanity are urgently needed to improve patient care and outcomes. The protest moved me deeply and strengthened my commitment to showing up—tired, hungry, sore, and bruised—not just as a citizen in theory, but in practice. As I approach the end of my final fall semester, I am grateful and honored to have taken this adjunct course, to have participated as a literary citizen, and to have documented a moment in history that will not be forgotten. I will always be a reader and a writer, no matter where my path takes me, and I will continue to document and share, ensuring the world knows that someone is out there listening—and acting.
PEACEKEEPER By Ava Devaud
But I was born carrying it—
this skin, this story,
this ache that asks for nothing
but to be seen as whole.
They look at me like I am a warning,
like love should come with conditions.
And when I ask for equality,
they call it trouble,
as if peace was theirs to give,
as if peace was theirs to withhold.
I get so tired sometimes.
Tired of being proof,
tired of being patient.
The world keeps asking,
demanding, begging,
asking for calm,
from the ones who are burning.
This heaviness hums under my ribs,
tension building bit by bit,
until my ribcage feels too tight to breathe.
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