For many, taking summer classes is not ideal; for me it was a way to speed up graduation. I leapt at the opportunity to graduate in December and signed up for two classes. A few weeks before summer school was set to start, I received an email that one of the classes I was planning on taking was cancelled due to low enrollment. At first I was bummed, and, scrolling through the list of offered classes, nothing seemed appealing until I came across a course entitled Writing True Stories: The Craft of Memoir. Intrigued, I clicked on the course description and decided this class was an acceptable alternative. I want to say thank you to those who did not sign up for the other class, because taking the writing course has been one of my favorite parts of this summer.
I’ve always tried to keep journals in the hopes of keeping my memories somewhere I wouldn’t forget. Until recently, I’ve never been close to finishing one. I usually start out with high hopes as I gaze longingly on to those crisp, blank pages that are full of opportunity, but after a while, the dedication tapers out and the journal remains half empty. The memoir class was a way for me to reflect on past memories — some good, some bad — and delve even deeper into moments that may have been glossed over in my journal. I found myself challenged in new ways and began to look at my writing differently.
I have always been fascinated by people, so much so that I could people watch for days. It should come as no surprise that in addition to the enjoyment of writing my own pieces, I loved hearing everyone else’s. We sat in a circle during class, which created an immediate sense of intimacy — a “circle of trust” if you will — and I always looked forward to going to class so I could hear what my classmates had written. There’s a quote that states, “Be kind, for everyone is facing their own battles.” And this class enabled that phrase to take on a whole new meaning for me. Of course, not everyone’s pieces were always about the “tough stuff,” but their writings undoubtedly showed the inner workings of their mind and how they see and feel and react to the world around them. As cliche as it sounds, I learned so much from myself and others by taking this course. I learned that behind every person is a multitude of adventures, moments of inexplicable joy and overwhelming times of sadness, but that’s what makes us all unique and beautiful.
If you’ve never taken a writing class that allows you to tap into your inner creativity and the wildness of your mind, do so! If you’re out of school, pick up a blank journal or open up a blank word document and let the memories and experiences flow out onto the page. Let your words get away from you as you travel back in time to a specific place, as you recount the feelings when you first fell in love, or a song that always transports you. We all have stories to share, and the beauty of writing a memoir is that by sharing your stories, you’re helping others connect better to you and the world around them. It’s amazing to see how much we all have in common if we took the time to talk about it. Our individual experiences might be different, but I think everyone has felt the feelings of being lost or hurt by a friend or heartbreak or love — the list goes on!
Be kind to yourself, and be kind to others, for we are all facing our own battles and triumphs!
