Tom, our newest intern, is an English major at the University of Southern Maine. He grew up in Berwick, Maine and after much traveling is adamant that Maine is the place to be. Tom enjoys his community in Portland, as well as being able to live so near to both mountains and ocean.

Growing up snorkeling with his father has led Tom to meet many of the local seals. He has recently taken up scuba diving in addition to the other staple hobbies: hiking, surfing, skiing, and reading good books in sunny places.

Among his favorite reads and recommendations are the typical English major affinities for the likes of Michele Foucault and Frederich Nietzsche. But not all reading must be hard work. Tom recommends Margaret Atwood’s “Maddadam” series, Jeannette Walls’ “The Glass Castle,” and Douglas Adams’ “Last Chance to See” for some great books to get lost in.

There is an affinity for nonfiction and contemporary relevance in Tom’s literary diet, and with that comes a natural appreciation for journalism. Tom has previously worked for The Free Press, where he enjoyed the process of learning, compiling, and finally telling a story.

At the Gorham Times, Tom is hoping to get a closer look behind the curtain of a newspaper. Though he will be off to law school and may not get to work as a journalist, one could always be a contributor. The legal field is a place where ideas take form in a democratic society, so Tom figures that there must be stories to tell and there is always a place for someone who can take a complicated topic and explain it simply. Tom may be with us here at the Gorham Times for only a semester, but we hope to hear from him in the coming years.