Meet the class of 2026: Taylor Fleming
Taylor Fleming once shared a single Airbnb with more than 15 of her VIU Dance teammates during a competition in Vancouver.
“It was a weekend I’ll never forget,” she says.
A member of the team for four years, Taylor says the experience was just one example of the closeness and connection she found within the overall VIU community.
The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Creative Writing, Minor in Journalism grad chose VIU because of the “close-knit” environment.
“In my time here, I’ve received endless assurances that I made the right choice,” she adds.
A standout moment for her was having her first piece published in Portal, VIU’s literary magazine, in 2024.
“That was probably the first time I felt like I was where I was meant to be.”
This year, Taylor realized one of her goals when she became one of the magazine’s managing editors.
“We launched this year’s issue on April 24 and I am so proud of how it turned out, and of all of the hard work put into it by our team.”
She says the magazine represents both personal growth and teamwork.
“It feels very special to have this physical thing I can hold and show to people as proof of what I’ve done in my time here. It feels like both a personal accomplishment because of the work I’ve put in, but also a collective one.”
She hopes she has helped inspire other students to believe in their own work, adding that the Creative Writing and Journalism program “thrives on community and on the practice of uplifting each other. I hope I’ve set a great example of that in my time here.”
Looking back, Taylor says one of the biggest lessons she learned was the importance of getting involved.
“All of my favourite memories at VIU happened after I put myself out there in some way or another,” she says.
Taylor starts her publishing career this summer with an internship with TouchWood Editions, an independent publisher in Victoria. She is also working on a novel and a non-fiction manuscript.
As she leaves VIU, Taylor says the support of her professors made a lasting impact on her growth as a writer.
“Everything I’ve learned and everything I have to give as a writer is a result of their encouragement and mentorship.”
Learn more about VIU’s Creative Writing and Journalism program
Photo credit: @loxonmedia / Instagram
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