Writing a New Narrative for Myself

Creative writing has always been a constant in my life. During my elementary and middle school days, back when I refused to speak a single word in class, my stories were my way of expressing to my teachers that I did, in fact, have a voice and personality. Around eighth grade, I became serious about my storytelling, regularly posting melodramatic poetry on the internet. I continued writing throughout high school, channeling all my stress, anxieties, and loneliness into stories that numbed the hurt.

In college, I joined the Writing Circle club as soon as I could, eager to find a space where I could meet peers who were just as passionate about writing as me. It’s where I met some of the closest people in my life, where I learned to embrace the atypical and the uncomfortable, and where I discovered that my writing wasn’t something that only had to be for myself; it could be for others, too.

As a sophomore, I hesitantly volunteered to be a facilitator for a Writing Circle group, a weekly space for a small number of students to meet up, exchange pieces, and provide constructive feedback. I began the experience feeling somewhat uneasy, unsure of what made me qualified to lead a group and foster a collaborative environment for dialogue; I was always a writer, not a speaker. And yet, I realized that people still listened when I opened my mouth. I had spent so much of my life carefully thinking about every word I employed that I ended up having the ability to guide and direct others in a thoughtful, compassionate manner. Even if writing was always my ideal method of communication, I could still use the skills I learned from it to connect with people face-to-face.

This year, I’m now part of Writing Circle’s administrative team. I meet with the other admins to plan and execute events, send mass emails, and coordinate the individual Writing Circle groups, with which I still facilitate. I am grateful to have a space in which I can share my writing with others and have the opportunity to read so many beautiful pieces. Though the theme of my writing remains dark, I’ve foremost learned that there’s always a hint of light that can be seen, a trace of warmth that can be felt. My writing burns brighter, warmer, and louder than ever before.

The poem I performed for the Spring 2023 Reading-Period Reading (pg. 1) and the Fall 2022 pamphlet for our semesterly Reading-Period Reading (pp. 2-3):