More from Elizabeth
- The end of an era
July 9, 2008 - My last, best semester
April 9, 2008 - The trouble with details
April 2, 2008 - On pins and needles
March 26, 2008 - In with the new
March 26, 2008 - Chic on the cheap
March 26, 2008 - Only in west Little Rock
March 19, 2008 - Seeing the (green) light
March 19, 2008 - Into the fire
March 12, 2008 - When your tile goes out of style
March 12, 2008 - See full list of stories by Elizabeth Sharp...
Elizabeth Sharp
Call Elizabeth at 501-244-4367.
Elizabeth Sharp, 22
Where are you from? Where have you lived?
I’ve lived most of my life in St. Louis, Mo., but I was born in Oklahoma, spent part of my childhood in Iowa, and went to school in Columbia, Mo.
Where’d you go to school? Was it easy for you to pick a major?
Like I said before, I went to school at the University of Missouri-Columbia. And no, it wasn’t hard to pick a major — I’d known for years that I wanted to make writing my career, so Magazine Journalism was an easy choice!
What has been your favorite job?
This one — no joke!
Worst job?
When I was a senior in high school, my brother swindled me into taking a job with him at a junk mail distribution plant during Christmas break. While I was operating one of the machines, it got jammed and burst into flames. After the smoke cleared and my brother quit laughing at me, a fellow employee informed me that “that sort of thing happens all the time.” Needless to say, I was less than reassured.
When you were a kid, what was your favorite toy?
My Cabbage Patch doll, Shelly. And I may or may not still sleep with her at night.
Do you feel like a “grown up”?
When I think of “grown ups,” I think of trading stocks and going to “power lunches” and wearing Bluetooths in line at the grocery store. Since I’ve never done any of those things — and hopefully never will — I’ll say no, I’m still just a kid.
If you could travel or live anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Japan, so I could revisit all the places that Scarlett Johannson and Bill Murray went to in Lost in Translation.
What kind of music do you listen to?
I have a pretty wide appreciation for music of all kinds, but The Magnetic Fields are my go-to band — they’re timeless.
What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen?
Tilly and the Wall. You can’t help but get excited about a live band whose percussion is entirely based around tap dancers in sequins and hot pants.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
When I was in fifth grade, my class took a skiing field trip. I was showing a highly uncharacteristic amount of athleticism on the bunny slope — that is, until I tripped over someone else’s skis while going up the tow rope. Not only did I have to endure my gym teacher’s shaming glance, but I also had a messed-up knee and a concussion to boot.
Do you have any pets? Do you share any of their personality traits?
I’m a lot like my dog Buster because he has a tendency to get high-strung, but on the plus side, he’s affectionate and fiercely loyal to our family. I closely resemble our other dog Willie because like him, I spent the first year of my life in the woods eating twigs and squirrels and fending for myself.
Any hobbies?
Compulsive doodling, playing the cello, old lady crafts like embroidery and knitting, and watching I Love New York marathons on VH1.
What’s the worst experience you’ve ever had with food?
The time at church camp when I bit into a turkey sandwich and found an industrial-strength staple (I think the cooks were in league planning my demise with those geniuses over at the junk mail plant).
Why did you apply to work on this publication?
I graduated from college, my health insurance was about to run out, and when I realized that I could flawlessly recite all three seasons of Arrested Development, I knew it was time to start doing something slightly more productive with my days.
