If you have ever walked through the third-floor hallway, you might have seen student pieces plastered against the gray walls lined with red lockers. Their voices greet you as you look up from taking a drink at the water fountain or while you wander aimlessly about the halls while “using the bathroom.” We have all been there, myself included.
It is a good practice to take a break—writing itself allows writers an introspective break. Writing, a form of the mind expressing itself, is just as important to the school community as the annual musical or blackjack chicken.
Many students are passionate about expressing themselves through writing. Whether one begrudgingly writes a personal narrative for their English class or pours their heart and soul into a spectacular Reflection, no one doubts the deeper self-connection that occurs.
“Creative Writing Club is meant for everyone. You can tell any kind of story in any kind of way in a place meant for you to get thoughts out of your head and onto a sheet of paper.”
Sean Ngo ’24
For those who enjoy the occasional dive into self-reflection or those who want to display their work, one might find a home in the Creative Writing Club, which was originally called Poetry Club.
Creative Writing Club meets every other Friday during the Club’s Period. Led by Sixth Formers Dawson Baker and Sean Ngo, it is a space for students to try out new styles of writing and to share their work with like-minded peers.
They created this club with the goal of expanding the school community’s horizons by being inclusive of different genres. Ngo strongly believes that writing is an art form of self-expression, just like music or theater.
“Creative Writing Club is a place meant for everyone,” Ngo said. “You can tell any kind of story in any kind of way in a place meant for you to get thoughts out of your head and onto a sheet of paper. Not enough people understand the power of writing as a tool of expression and analysis, instead of something you do for a grade in English class.”
Creative Writing Clubs allows students a chance to break off from the mold.
“It’s genuinely fun, and really is another form of art,” Ngo said. “I honestly wish we had classes available for it like we do for music, theater, and other arts. For me, writing about the things and thoughts I wanted to was life changing, and I encourage anyone to join us.”
“[Creative Writing club] is open to works in progress from any genre. Some student have talking about a collaborative project.”
Dr. Callie Ward
Faculty advisor Dr. Callie Ward is eager to see what is in store for the club this year.
“We’re open to works in progress from any genre,” Dr. Ward said. “Some students have been talking about a collaborative project where we each write a different chapter of a choose-your-own-adventure type story, and we put all these chapters together.”
With hopes that this club may have a direct correlation to Pegasus, the school’s literary magazine, Dr. Ward—who was a faculty advisor for Pegasus last year—cannot wait for what is to come.
Wandering about the upper school, it is impossible to have ignored a copy of the Pegasus Magazine or the many posters encouraging you to submit to Pegasus. The school’s student-led literary magazine, which meets every Monday morning from 8:00 to 8:30 before school, releases publications twice a year.
Like most clubs at Haverford, Pegasus was shaken up by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Advisor Ms. Taylor Smith-Kan believes that Pegasus has finally reestablished itself. “Pegasus took a hit during COVID-19 because we didn’t have clubs, and the following year it was harder to get support because kids didn’t know what it was about,” Ms. Smith-Kan said. “This year, I think we’re finally back and running. We’ve got two awesome editors, Fifth Former Elliot Lee and Sixth Former Christopher Schwarting. I think we’re finally back to where we were pre-COVID, and I’m really excited to see what the guys are going to put together this year.”