What is The Power Within?
The Power Within was a project about about engaging students in meaningful writing, reading, and self-exploration. We had a question that would kick off our whole story:
Where does your power come from?
Where does your power come from?
Drafting
At first I had some trouble coming up with my story, I have never actually felt down about anything since I was take everything on with a positive attitude. I realized that, and began thinking what gives me this positivity. It was my dad. I then began thinking of things that has happened to my dad and the lessons that have came with that he has taught me. I thought about the time when we were almost driven to homelessness. I began writing about that. My first couple of drafts were all over the place. I was having lot's of trouble remembering what happened and was not able to ask my parents because if I did, they would not let me share the story. I kept trying to go off of what I remember but it was not working out. I was having trouble adding details, putting things in order and stuff like that throughout all my drafts.
After I submitted my "final" draft, it was still incomplete, the story still didn't feel right so I decided to change it to something else. I decided to write about my dad's heart attack and how I grew from it. This story was more recent and I had a lot to say about it. It was very easy to write. I began just thinking of everything. From how it started to the way it left my family and I. This only took a couple of drafts before I was ready to go.
After I submitted my "final" draft, it was still incomplete, the story still didn't feel right so I decided to change it to something else. I decided to write about my dad's heart attack and how I grew from it. This story was more recent and I had a lot to say about it. It was very easy to write. I began just thinking of everything. From how it started to the way it left my family and I. This only took a couple of drafts before I was ready to go.
Draft One:
Draft Two:
"Final" Draft:
Critique
The critique process really helped me a lot. It is what sort of got me to realize that my original story idea needed to be changed. In class we had about three or so critique sessions. These critiques consisted of 4 or 5 people in a group. Each person would go around and share their stories from each draft they had. The audience would then give feedback on a paper. I do not have any pictures of my critique because I accidently through them away after Thanksgiving break while cleaning out my backpack, but I do have the template here:
After getting all my critiques, I got the same feedback from everybody. They all said that they could not see where my power was coming from. I couldn't agree more with them because of how stuck I was writing my story. This is what made me know that I needed to change it. After turning in my "final" draft is when I changed it. I started to get critique outside of school and did it about two times with two different people. After my critiques I just practiced a couple times till I was sure I liked it.
Script and Pictures
Scripting did not work out that well for me. I tried scripting but got a bit lazy during it. Also while practicing, the scripting that I put meant nothing to me, as much as I tried to remember, each time I shared my story, my nervousness would make me to completely forget it all and just be on my own even though it was all right there in front of me.
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Exhibition
Exhibition for me was unlike any of the other exhibitions that I have ever done at High Tech High. It was very nerve racking. I do not like getting up in front of a crowd of people and sharing a story, especially when it is to complete random strangers and the story is personal. I got to Project Reo Collective and saw everyone setting up. I kept it all together and pretended I wasn't nervous and I was completely ready. When the performances began, I was calming down, but once the person in front of me went up, my stomach filled with butterflies. I went up on the stage, fixed the mic, and just started reading. I felt as if everyone there had disappeared and I was completely alone reading to myself out loud. Before I knew it, it was over and I had gotten it done with.
Project Reo Collective on a night of The Power Within