Families Matters: Workshops with OHS Teens dealing with Real Life
Christian Brothers University
Dr. Karen Golightly, Head of the Creative Writing Department, conducted a Master Class in Creative Non-Fiction for the Overton High School CAPA Creative Writing Classes on September 13, 2012. She was accompanied by an admissions counselor, Eric, who also spoke to students about not only opportunities for them at Christian Brothers University, but about preparation for college in general. In the workshop, students were asked if they could be a color in the color spectrum, what color would they be? Students were allowed a ten minute period of time during which to write. Students then shared their responses. The following is but one of the many responses:
"I am the color of water because water is left to be determined by the viewer. You can mix colors into water. In my opinion, it's base color is clear and I like to think of myself as neutral until someone changes my color for the better or worse. Basically, the world is my palet" -Maurico Farmer, Senior
"The calm collective flare that shows through the dull, boring black ... Shining brightly to where you can tell that it's there ... Never fading but can blend in greatly, with a vivid opposite that can be seen daily ... Beautiful in any way you see it, though the way it appears can leave you speechless." -Morgan Winfrey, Junior
"I am the color of water because water is left to be determined by the viewer. You can mix colors into water. In my opinion, it's base color is clear and I like to think of myself as neutral until someone changes my color for the better or worse. Basically, the world is my palet" -Maurico Farmer, Senior
"The calm collective flare that shows through the dull, boring black ... Shining brightly to where you can tell that it's there ... Never fading but can blend in greatly, with a vivid opposite that can be seen daily ... Beautiful in any way you see it, though the way it appears can leave you speechless." -Morgan Winfrey, Junior
Southern Word Artist in Residence: Tiffany Mishe'
In the spring of 2013, a former student from the CAPA Drama Department, Tiffany Mishe', returned as an Artist in Residence for Southern Word through a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. She conducted a Slam Poetry Workshop for not only the Creative Writing classes, but the CAPA Art class as well. These students were exposed to the true definition of spoken word as Tiffany performed a piece titled "Television". She revealed that it was a piece she had written during the time she was a student at Overton, emphasizing the fact that strong writing doesn't have to occur just when you are "grown" ... you can be a writer at any age!