Finding Her Way Home
Fast forward 16 years, several career changes and a master’s degree later, Hoffert is back in the same place that she says helped instill in her a love of writing. Earlier this semester, she answered questions from students sitting in the same chairs she once sat.
“Coming back to Concordia to talk about my book and my journey was rewarding. I felt like I came full circle on so many levels,” she says.
In her book, “Prairie Silence,” Hoffert explores themes familiar to Midwesterners – faith, family and farming. In the memoir, she weaves a personal narrative about growing up gay in rural North Dakota with an ode to the people and land of her home state.
An English writing major at Concordia, Hoffert credits the college with building her confidence in terms of being a professional writer and critical thinker, as well as instilling within her a desire for a meaningful vocation.
Hoffert pored herself into technical writing following graduation from Concordia. At the back of her mind, however, were memories of conversations with her advisor, W. Scott Olsen, which she says filled her soul.
“I learned to listen to language and to paint with words,” Hoffert says. “As an English writing major, I wasn’t just learning to write. With every book I ingested, I entered a world of diverse perspectives, cultures, life experiences and historical contexts. Concordia taught me to never stop digging, to never stop learning.”