Rate My Professor Tiffany Young

In October 2024, Tiffany Young won the staff fiction category in the University of Otago's annual Writer creative writing competition, themed 'A place of many firsts'. Her winning story, 'The Room was Lavender', draws from her personal experiences and journey of seeking help. The narrative highlights the power of expressing oneself to confront challenges and lighten emotional burdens. As a person of colour, Young explores themes of trust in sharing vulnerabilities with listeners from different backgrounds, emphasizing the healing potential despite initial doubts. Judge Mikaela Nyman, the 2024 Burns Fellow, commended the story for its strong sense of place, emotional charge, and masterful handling of pace, tension, reveals, and tenderness.

Reflecting on her participation, Young shared: 'Having a deadline helps me commit, it's always a bit easier to finish something when there's a little pressure. Additionally, I entered because I wanted to bring writing back into my life more consistently, and this competition seemed like a wonderful opportunity to do just that.' She further noted: 'As a person of colour, it can be hard to trust that someone from a different background could truly understand what you've been through. That doubt can make you question whether they can genuinely help. But even with those uncertainties, the act of sharing with someone whose role is to listen can be incredibly powerful and healing.' This accomplishment underscores Young's creative talents alongside her professional contributions to student outreach at the University of Otago.