Author and Speaker Caralena Peterson BLSE '23 Coming to Campus to Speak About Her Book, The Effortless Perfection Myth

Caralena Peterson, Bread Loaf School of English ‘23, is set to join CCI on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 for a discussion about her book, The Effortless Perfection Myth. The event will provide an opportunity for students to hear her insights on dismantling the myth and fostering empowerment among college women.

About Caralena:

Caralena (Cara) Peterson is a speaker and writer educating both students and their parents on the “Effortless Perfection” Myth and the mental health crisis it has spurred on campuses across the United States, especially amongst women. Known as the Effortless Perfection expert, she has written about the Myth for places like Inside Higher Ed, The Week, Teen Vogue, She Knows Media, Ms. Magazine, Rewire News, and Bustle and dives deeper into all of its effects and solutions in her book, The Effortless Perfection Myth: Debunking the Myth and Revealing the Path to Empowerment for Today’s College Women (September 2022).

Caralena earned her B.A. in Women’s Studies and Public Policy at Duke University and her M.A. at the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English. She has spoken to audiences including TEDx, Duke, Cornell, Harvard, Tulane, Amazon GoodReads, and the National Women’s History Museum, among others. She has had the honor of appearing on news programs like Good Morning Washington and PIX11.

Caralena has five years of teaching experience at the middle and high school level in English and History. She is also a mixed-medium artist whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Washington Life Magazine.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023
• Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Location: Wilson Cafe McCullough Student Center
• Book Giveaway: The first 20 students to arrive at the event will receive a complimentary copy of Cara’s book, “The Effortless Perfection Myth.” Doors Open at 3:45 p.m.

This event is co-sponsored by Health and Wellness Education, the Center for Career and Internships, and the President’s Office.