Stories I Waited Too Long to Tell
Prompt
Finding Healing in Words
I have always loved storytelling. But it wasn’t until November of 2014 that I realized storytelling could help me process events that happened in my life. This tool is especially helpful because I internalize almost everything. For years, I knew of no viable way to relieve the agony and anxiety that would eat away at me. In fall of 2014, I enrolled in a Theatre 101 class to fill up a college elective. Towards the conclusion of that semester, we were assigned to create four to six pages of dialogue from an original play. We didn’t have to make up an entire story; we just had to write the dialogue and include a summary of the narrative. Personal news had recently been announced to my extended family and for weeks I’d been reeling from surprising information. So I decided to channel my frustrations into the form of the written word. Not only did writing help me process my emotions but it became the release I desperately needed. The moment I finished the final scene I felt a great weight lifted from my shoulders. The sharp pain and anxiety that I was all too familiar with vaporized instantly. I had found healing and a sense of peace by writing a story. The one-act play is based on a true event and although I took an abundance of liberties throughout the story, I discovered that writing was something I was meant to do. "Truth Is" serves as a constant reminder of that small epiphany.
Motivational Monologue
Inspiring speeches and moving monologues are no new spectacle to the world. From films to plays to public events, there are millions of examples of spoken or written words that have had a significant impact on people. Recently, I was casually browsing through my worn notebook when I came across a paragraph I'd written in July of 2014 titled "Random Monologue." I don't recall what prompted me to write it exactly (I think it was the result of a knot of feelings that I needed to put to paper at the time), but I was surprised to find that it wasn't half bad. It can be used in two of my stories, but I haven't decided which one yet. Regardless, with a little polishing, the sentiments originally expressed in my "random monologue" still hold true today (for me, that is). And to be completely honest, I'm quite proud of myself for writing a solid piece like this. (Click the picture to read)
A Different Kind of Literature Paper
Life as an English major is riddled with countless writing assignments analyzing the various works studied and discussed in class. I do love writing but after a while, academic papers become an unwanted chore. There are guidelines to follow and specific formats you have to adhere to. There were so many times where I just wanted to write freely, almost in the fashion of stream of conscious. I got one chance to do so in my Literary Theory class. It was the second analytic paper assignment where we had to demonstrate our understating of texts and philosophies of the thinkers we were studying (such as Burke, Freud, Nietzsche, and Yeats) through dialogue. In other words, we were instructed to write a script. I was ecstatic! This was right up my alley and I went all out: I created a one-scene play with descriptive stage direction and carefully crafted dialogue. It proved to be the fastest "paper" I've ever written for school (it only took me a few hours to plan and complete) and by far the most enjoyable.
Personal Theme Song
Many years ago, I saw an interview with Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore for their film, Tangled. It was an ordinary interview but what intrigued me was the final question the acting team received: if you had your own theme song, what would it be? While Moore couldn't decide, Levi chose "Good Morning" from Singin' in the Rain. What a neat idea! Music can often reveal more than what words alone can express. A theme song could be the perfect tool to introduce yourself to others. So naturally, that got me thinking: with hundreds of thousands of songs to choose from, which one would be my theme song? After a great deal of pondering and song browsing, I chose "All My Days" by Alexi Murdoch and haven't looked back. From sound to lyrics to style, this track fits me perfectly. I made this selection back in 2011 and the lyrics and tone still describe me impeccably to this day. Click the picture to listen.
To learn more about Alexi Murdoch, visit his website here.
A Syllabus of My Own
I spent a total of six years in college: three in a culinary program and three in an English/Literature program. In all of my numerous composition, literature, and creative writing classes, I never studied one piece from J.R.R. Tolkien. Not only is Tolkien one of my favorite authors, but he's one of the most prominent writers of the twentieth century. Yet I never came across any of his unprecedented publications while in college. Instead, I studied literary pieces I'd already read in grade school and high school (Don Quixote, Odyssey). As I came closer to the conclusion of my collegial career, I grew more and more irritated that Tolkien was never included in any of my English Literature syllabi. Lucky for me, my university openly encouraged its students to pursue their academic ambitions, like requesting a specific course of study. This was my chance! I could finally have a class focused on Tolkien. I directed all of my efforts for the next year and a half into researching content and collecting relevant material necessary for a university-level course on Tolkien. But each time I met the university's requirements, I was told another element was needed. With the help of a like-minded professor, my Tolkien class was green-lit just in time for my final semester...only to be canceled days before school began. Regardless of the unfortunate outcome, I'm still incredibly proud of the work I put into the project and for the incredible support from the great professor who would have taught my class. This is the only tangible evidence I have of our endeavor: the syllabus for "The Philosophy of J.R.R. Tolkien."
