Dear Creative Writing Minors,

We often get a bad rap for pursuing a "useless" or "unfulfilling" field of study. However, I consider us lucky to have found such a unique talent. I especially consider myself lucky to have found a passion as young as the age of eight. Many in our generation are not so lucky, and since then, I realized that without the right amount of encouragement, a passion is just a passion and a dream is just a dream. I was fortunate enough to understand my potential at a young age and receive proper support in return. So please remember, Creative Writing Minors, that you are not alone, and you can find support within the creative writing community. And while our journeys may not be the same, we will have a connection that we follow together.

For me, creative writing entered my world when I walked into my third grade classroom. I had no idea my passion would come in the form of a paper plate -- a gorilla paper plate to be exact. My teacher Mrs. Thompson, with glasses resting on her nose and the usual pencil behind one ear, cleared her throat for an announcement. She described a new writing project, one that would “require imagination.” I did not know what imagination was at the time or that I used it every day, but I was neutral to the idea of writing.

Mrs. Thompson went to the class cabinet and brought out a stack of paper plates. We were told to stand in line and grab the next plate in the stack. Each plate had an animated animal printed on the front and animal ears sticking out from the back.

The assignment was to give a name to your “animal” and create a story that revolved around your character. Each week, Mrs. Thompson would add an object to our plate, whether that be a goldfish cracker, a marble, or an eraser. She would tell us to incorporate the object into our story. Let me tell you, those Wednesdays were the best part of my week. I named my gorilla Brownie and I wrote about all of our silly adventures together. I described our adventures in great detail and found myself anticipating the sensation of a pencil resting in my hand. Writing fiction was a whole new world I was unfamiliar with, but I came to love its mystery. To be frank, I loved everything about fiction. I loved the freedom of it. I loved hearing my words on paper. I loved seeing my imagination come to life. I loved how it made me feel.

After the project was complete, Mrs. Thompson taught us that the type of writing we were undertaking was called creative writing and the people who did it for a job were called authors. I could not comprehend how people were paid to do something as exhilarating as write stories. Immediately, I knew it was my goal to become an author. My determination to create stories continues. I am proud to say I have written multiple novels and a great deal of short stories. Have any of them been published? No, but I have tried, and the possibility remains.

I know I have a lot to improve, but it is because of this determination, this passion for writing, and the inspiration of my teacher that I feel ready to make myself a creative writing minor. I now feel confident about studying literature in college and letting my creative side affect how I view the world. I have no doubt that writing was something I was meant to do, and like I always say, “I write because I find comfort in the power of a pencil and the freedom of the imagination. Writing allows me to ignore my realities and focus on a new one."

I sincerely hope all creative writing minors find use in their study. Whether that be just for their own enjoyment, I hope they never regret their choice and eventually realize (if they haven't already) that there are multiple benefits to come from creating new realities. I look forward to working alongside you in the future.

With love and admiration,

A fellow Creative Writing Minor