By Lorraine Glowczak
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| 2021 Windham High graduate Sophie Phipps is the founder of the school's Creative Writing Club, open to all students. The club has offered an opportunity for social connections for students during the pandemic. MEGAN HATCH PHOTO |
Writing can be a very solitary adventure, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Many writers, whether professional or otherwise, become a part of a writing group to work on individual projects, meet goals, or join to be with others who share a passion for the creatively written word.
In the fall of 2019 during
her junior year, Windham High School (WHS) student, Sophie Phipps wanted to
join a creative writing club for the very reasons listed above. “I wanted to
hold myself accountable to write more, as writing is something I love to do but
never manage to make time for,” Phipps said. Unfortunately, she soon discovered
there was no such group available at the school.
In an article published in the Jan. 16, 2020 edition of The Windham Eagle newspaper, written by Ryan Lowell, Phipps stated that she discovered her love for creative writing in the seventh grade when she was seeking an emotional outlet after the death of her grandfather.
“It was the first major
grief I’d felt in my life. I was overwhelmed by everything I felt and [I was]
determined to figure out how to deal with my grief,” Phipps said during that
interview. She wrote a short descriptive story about her “Papa” in English
class and was moved to tears by putting her fond memories into words. “When my
piece was finished, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my
shoulders. I felt completely soothed and content and fell fast asleep that
night. It was this experience that taught me the catharsis of creative writing.
Personally, writing has stuck out to me as a passion ever since.”
Because a creative
writing club was not available, Phipps began researching ways to create a successful
and fun organization that students could enjoy, bearing in mind collaboration
and inclusivity. With the assistance of Ryan Lowell, former WHS
Journalism/English Teacher, she officially began the WHS Creative Writing Club later
that fall. It was an immediate success, with approximately 12 students meeting
on a weekly basis.
It was through this success that Phipps began to consider the Creative Writing Club as a possible Capstone Project, a required academic assignment to be completed prior to graduation. A capstone project’s mission is described as: “to identify an existing problem in a real-world setting and find a way to develop a solution to address the problem directly.” The student is often encouraged to participate in the project they are enthusiastic about and has the potential of helping the community in some way.
“I met with Lanet Anthony [Director of Community Connections] who guides
us with our projects, and she gave me the greenlight, saying that the Creative
Writing Club met all the requirements of a Capstone Project,” Phipps said. “I
thought, ‘Sweet! Two birds with one stone!’”
Since its inception, the Creative Writing Club
has not only been a success with highly involved active membership for over a
year that will continue after Phipps graduates next month - but has achieved a
great deal of success in multiple ways, despite the pandemic.
“I have been beyond
impressed with how these students, led by Sophie, have devoted their free time
to artistic cultivation,” said WHS English Teacher and Creative Writing Club
Advisor, Chelsea Scott. “This is time they could literally use for anything
else, yet they chose to spend it on Google Meets, writing and responding to
each other's developing work. Students would come in each week with fully
formed stories or poetry and would also write on the spot in response to prompts.
They gave mature, compassionate, and whip-smart feedback that fueled each
other's progress and ultimately, I think, drew them back each week.”
Scott also said that self-expression,
even if no one else sees what the writer creates, can be so healing. “Sustaining
a reliable container for students to explore through writing seemed like a
necessary support, especially in these times,” she said. “These kids also have
amazing senses of humor. We have fun, whether in-person or on screens!”
Phipps
is very appreciative of Scott’s support of the Creative Writing Club, who
became the new advisor after Lowell relocated to Western Maine and now teaches
at a high school there.
“Ms.
Scott has been instrumental in making the Creative Writing Club a success
during the pandemic. She kept our spirits up and helped to make this experience
fun, inclusive and collaborative. I really appreciate all her effort.”
Sophie
Phipps will graduate next month on Sunday, June 13 ranked third of her class.
She will attend Brown University this fall, with a concentration in Biology.
Her goal is to become a research scientist and a tenured professor, for both of
which the acquired skill of writing and publishing is a must. Phipps currently
writes poetry and realistic flash fiction. <
