In this first-person narrative, College of Liberal Arts student Ericka Estacio shares how her passion for writing grew from childhood challenges into a lifelong pursuit, shaped by creativity, mentorship and resilience. Through personal loss and self-discovery, she found her voice again and continues to use storytelling as a way to connect, inspire and make an impact.

Where it began

My passion for writing started when I was very young, at around 9 years old. At the time, I just recently immigrated from the Philippines, so writing and literature actually weren’t my strongest subjects in school at all. I struggled to the point where my dad set up a home curriculum where I read at home and would write my dad a one-page summary of what I had read to improve.

It wasn’t until my fourth-grade teacher started to integrate creative writing in class, where we got to write stories (fiction or non-fiction) and share them with each other. This was when I started to do some writing outside of class, from poetry and short stories to journaling. It felt like a way to express myself and be creative. I think that my love for literature and writing really clicked when my middle school English teacher sent me home with a copy of "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott to read, because at the time, I was really struggling with keeping up with my reading level. After reading it, it felt like something clicked. From then on, I pursued writing in all aspects of my life. 

This might come as a surprise because when I was asked, “What do you wanna be?” as a child, I always answered with what I thought people wanted to hear. At some point I wanted to work in health care like my relatives, at other points, I wanted to be a lawyer. During high school, I joined the Mock Trial club and tried other clubs that might point me to the direction of what I am meant to do. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I decided to join the student paper. And while my past experiences solidified my passion for writing, this experience solidified my determination to pursue it. 

After a well-needed gap year following high school graduation, I was again feeling lost. Deep down, I knew that majoring in something writing-related, like English, was something I’ve always dreamed of. But I had a lot of uncertainty. Can this be an actual career? Is this a useful degree? So many questions came rushing to me by the time I needed to decide. Thankfully, my dad’s belief in me was unshakable. He told me that if I really felt in my bones that this was the right move for me, then I should go for it. 

That’s how I ended up in Reno, Nevada! 

My journey in Reno

As an incoming freshman at the time, I was super excited to meet new people, learn about myself as a writer and as a person. 

My dad unexpectedly passed away just after my first semester in college. The very person who truly believed that I was capable of pursuing my area of study. Again, I was feeling lost. My dad was the type of person who encouraged me to try things, even if I failed, it was still a step forward. My love for writing and literature diminished. My motivation for learning went away. And my ambition to dream big, like my dad always wanted me to, also withered away. 

I decided to take advantage of the University’s counseling services, where I received regular therapy sessions to deal with my grief. 

Slowly but surely, my ambition and determination to pursue writing came back. I started to read and write for pleasure again and go to class with the openness to learn. If it wasn't for the support I received from the school, friends and family, I can’t say I would be where I am now. 

It enabled me to have the confidence to pursue opportunities like my internships. I’ve had really fruitful opportunities as a writer, being mentored as a journalist for Insight Magazine, Vibrant Voices and Sierra Nevada Ally, and having interned for The Abbi Agency, Estipona Group and StartUpNV as a content writer. I am forever grateful to my past mentors and educators who helped me strengthen my skills. 

One of my favorite things about writing is how much impact you can make on others. I think when you major in something like creative writing, people have this presumption that it is a self-indulgent pursuit, but I actually think it’s the opposite. From what I’ve observed with my peers, we all have this belief in the power of storytelling and communication and how it can change the world, especially in our current time. 

Beyond the stigma

As a liberal arts major, it can be hard to get a clear direction of where your future career is headed. But it is important to remember that a liberal arts education is incredibly versatile and that it equips you with highly transferable skills. It enabled me to enter fields that I never thought I could be a part of, such as journalism, marketing and editorial. It’s also important to note that the University has so many resources for better preparation, like the Nevada Career Studio, which is where I landed my first paid internship. There is so much value in a liberal arts education that I think remains underrated. Over time, these opportunities really disproved the initial stigma I felt with pursuing a liberal arts education.

In the past, I wasted so much time contemplating if this was the right path for me. But that indecision really held me back. Once I started to make decisions (sometimes the right ones, sometimes the wrong ones), I started learning so much about myself. Now, as a senior, I can confidently say that I have made the right decision for me. 

I want to reiterate that I am forever grateful for the counseling services here at the University of Nevada, Reno, my partner, close friends and family who believed in me, and my dad, who remains my number one inspiration. 

Today, I am a proud contributor to Nevada Today as a student content writer, where I get to tell stories and connect with a larger audience in a meaningful way.