Class of 2026: Bella Joerg finds purpose as director of student literary festival

To be an English major is to find yourself in the most unlikely of places. To be an English major is to love where you end up. That's Bella Joerg, an English literature and studio art double major who is set to graduate in May.

Her journey from first year to senior year and from a member to president of Glossolalia, a student literary festival at Virginia Tech, grounded Joerg in her love for literature. Her uncertainty about her place in English blossomed into motivation to help underclassmen just like her. With her leadership, Joerg platformed voices in the literary sphere and created a space for lovers of English to connect.

Glossolalia, nicknamed Glossy, celebrates the work of both current students and established authors. Past festivals have invited three authors, some alumni of the M.F.A. in Creative Writing program at Virginia Tech, to share their process and product. Similarly, students submit their work to the festival, earning their spot as a reader of their writing.

Discovering a new passion

At first, Joerg was unsure about her English major and the extra work it would bring to her already heavy studio art load.

“I was leaning toward dropping English,” she said, “because I felt that art was my love whereas English was something I was just good at.”

Even when first joining Glossolalia, she felt out of place being the only non-creative writing major in the club. She joined Glossolalia because it was losing most of its members to graduation, and a friend, who had just been elected president, wanted her support.

Despite Joerg’s initial ambivalence towards Glossolalia, she quickly grew to love the organization.

“Having a stage to perform gives our readers and authors the opportunity to display their work as they intended,” said Joerg. “You can’t hear what the author’s saying when you read their book; it’s only your interpretation.”

For Joerg, Glossy is more than just a celebration of creativity. It’s a way for the invited creatives to express themselves among a crowd of equally ambitious and like-minded people.

Joerg became president during her senior year. As a junior, she worked with the previous president to understand the position and review the goals for the festival. Her priorities for her presidency focused on executing another year of orchestrated literary excellence.

However, those priorities would shift when the new year came around.

A festival for all students

Joerg was no stranger to recruitment, so when it came to representing Glossolalia at Gobblerfest last fall, she expected nothing out of the ordinary. English majors would stop by, sign up for the interest meeting, grab a bookmark, and be on their way. But this Gobblerfest was a little different.

While the occasional English major did stop by the table, so did students of vastly different majors.

“It felt valuable to communicate why we’re trying so hard to make Glossy happen to people that aren’t in English at all,” Joerg said. “It just goes to show you don’t have to be an English major to do English major stuff.”

During Joerg’s presidency, more non-English major students joined Glossolalia than those who are studying English.

Having reached students from departments Joerg never imagined would have an interest, such as physics and accounting, she realized Glossolalia was more than just a festival. It was a community.

Glossolalia allowed people to break free from the confines of their academics and breach a world they truly loved. Even for Joerg, Glossolalia was her path to connection.

“I feel like when you’re engaging with subjects you’re interested in outside of a classroom setting, you feel more comfortable to speak your mind and be yourself with other people," she said.

Leading an organization that gave students a space for expression was almost as rewarding as directing the festival, Joerg said. Her time with Glossolalia will forever remind her that her English major is not a weakness; it’s an opportunity.

Written by Ava Nelson, English literature, professional & technical writing, and creative writing major.