Winner Spotlights

Caden Smith,  Class of 2024

What is your favorite thing to write about and why?

I think it definitely has to be horror. I've always enjoyed watching videos and reading books about paranormal entities, whether they be friendly or demonic.

What type of writing do you enjoy creating the most: short stories, poems, etc?

It's a tie between poems and short stories. I've always been writing short stories, probably since early-mid 7th grade. Recently, I found out I had a knack for poetry as well, where I was able to write several that myself and others thought were really impressive.

Where do you find inspiration when you are writing? 

When I was just starting out, I used books and movies as inspiration for two stories of mine. One of them was sort of a combination of Chuckie and Goosebumps, and the other was based off the story in Ready Player One, just with different events and characters.

What was your favorite book as a child and why? 

This is tough; I don't remember reading a lot of stories back when I was younger. It would probably have to have been cartoony books like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate series.

What is your favorite memory from this school year?

My favorite memory may have been different had Covid not wrecked every plan we had for the year, but for now, it's winning the March Poetry contest. I proved to myself that I can write well, and fulfill my dream in life to become an author.

Marwa Sbai, Class of 2024

What is your favorite thing to write about and why?

I love to write poems, short stories, and essays dedicated towards the beauty of nature and the aspect of life. I also enjoy writing fantasy/adventure fictional short stories. I've always admired creative writing and pieces of literature made up entirely from one's imagination. If you cannot imagine, you cannot write!

What type of writing do you enjoy creating the most: short stories, poems, etc?

I enjoy creating short stories because they don't require much of a commitment and yet they have the ability to provide you with a suspenseful plot packed with authentic characters. 

Where do you find inspiration when you are writing? 

When I am writing, I find my inspiration in other books, films, and the natural world.

What was your favorite book as a child and why? 

As a child, my favorites consisted of the Percy Jackson series, several Roald Dahl short stories, J.R.R Tolkien books, etc. As a result, I fell in love with adventure/fantasy fiction --- It's always been a genre I can refer back to when I'm trying to escape from reality.

What is your favorite memory from this school year?

I'm fortunate enough to recall many favorite memories of mine that have happened this year but almost all of them consist of spending time with my family and being able to connect with others virtually.

Paris Kelley,  Class of 2023 

What is your favorite thing to write about and why?

My favorite thing to write about is nature. Nature is filled with so many different things to write about. You can look outside and get so much inspiration to write with its constant changes and beauty. 

What type of writing do you enjoy creating the most: short stories, poems, etc?

I enjoy writing poetry the most. I've learned that poetry isn't about trying to make words rhyme. You can use short sentences to create a message. 

Where do you find inspiration when you are writing?

When I am writing, I find my inspiration from nature. Since nature is always changing, there is always something to write about. 

What was your favorite book as a child and why?

When I was a child, my favorite book was The Lady with the Alligator Purse. I enjoyed reading the story over and over again because I  thought that it was funny, creative, and entertaining. 

What is your favorite memory from this school year?

My favorite memory from this school year was winning the Poetry Out Loud school competition. I then had to memorize three different poems, and I enjoyed performing them in front of other students from different schools and judges. 

Amelia Daihl,  Class of 2023

What is your favorite thing to write about and why?

My favorite thing to write about is my personal experiences because then I can look back and remember what happened in the past just by reading a poem I wrote.

What type of writing do you enjoy creating the most: short stories, poems, etc?

I enjoy creating poems the most.

Where do you find inspiration when you are writing?

I find most of my inspiration from my emotions. I like to write about my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. That way I can be passionate in my writing piece. 

What was your favorite book as a child and why?

My all time favorite book as a child was I Love You by Robert Munsch. It told the story of a little boy and his mother. It goes through the stages of this boy evolving and his relationship with his mother and how they loved each other. It's a good book to show to children about love within families. 

What is your favorite memory from this school year?

My favorite memory from this school year was in English class, about 2 months ago. While working on a project, I had discovered that reading poetry books brought me comfort and stability. Since then, I have improved on some of my English skills and personal skills.