Ian Nicholas began college as a computer science major at another school, dropped out after a year because he was bored, and enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University a year later.

“I decided I’d stop being a slacker who didn’t show up half the time and start applying myself, get involved on campus,” he says.

It was easier the second time around, mostly because Ian had decided to follow his bliss: creative writing.

“I had remembered back in fifth grade when we had an assignment to write a short story, and I thought it was the coolest thing,” he said. “I filled up pages.”

At SHNU, one door after another opened for the transfer student. A professor encouraged Ian to start the student literary magazine, “The Manatee.” Another offered him a job as editorial assistant for Amoskeag, the university’s national literary journal.

When he’s not in the classroom or editing, Ian tutors in the Learning Center and participates in campus book and writers groups.

He also reads voraciously, and writes.

“I’ve gradually moved into more literary stuff,” Ian says, describing an arc from Stephen King to Thomas Pynchon. “I’m more interested in the characters than in the plot.”

Indeed, Ian’s story reflects a similar development.

“I didn’t decide to take responsibility for my life until I arrived at SNHU,” he says.