Alienum phaedrum torquatos nec eu, vis detraxit periculis ex, nihil expetendis in mei. Mei an pericula euripidis, hinc partem.

Contact Us: (410) 467-4920

 

Student’s Writings

The students recently attended the current Center Stage production of the iconic play, “Our Town.” Their subsequent Creative Writing topic: “My Town” wherein “their town” might be a city, a neighborhood, a room, or a state of mind. Here is Jayla's thoughtful essay. My Town The town of Broadway, population unknown. Broadway is filled with different races--black, Hispanic, white. Most mornings it's quiet, people walking to get to school, people getting in their cars to head to work, people returning home from the previous day of work. However, on certain days, the mornings can be crazy. Couples yelling at each other, people talking loud on the phone, people blasting music, or just screaming for absolutely no reason. When I wake up in the morning, I get dressed, clean myself up, and head out the door. I get to school by car, get home by car, pretty much all my transportation is by car. Everyone else is either driving, or at the bus stop. Most mornings, there are at least 30 people gathered around the bus stop waiting. My town is filled with a lot of loss. Every couple weeks someone has lost their life. It’s crazy how fast it happens in my town. It always happens right across the street. Literally walking distance. If I left my house and went across the street, I’d be standing in the middle of a crossfire. Jays is the name of a store. Everyone goes there to get their half and half, fried rice, shrimp and broccoli, chicken box, or the famous chicken tenders...

The students were tasked to imagine they are sitting on a park bench waiting for a friend when a blind man sits down with them and asks them to share what they see. Here are two decidedly different approaches. Kevin paints a word picture that is both brilliantly descriptive and deeply meaningful, more than worthy of his closing line, “I see something you shouldn’t take for granted.” Joshua, on the other hand, gives his blind man some attitude and gets schooled about using all his senses to truly see. The Park I sit back in my seat, thinking about how I’ll go about it. With a sigh, I look up, and start describing what I see. “High above us, I see the sky. In it are clouds, ones that look like they’d feel like big stretched out pieces of cotton or plushie stuffing, and just as soft, if not more. They’re the white of new paper, of fresh linen, and a blank slate. They haven’t turned gray with the rage of a storm, they’re just… clouds. Clouds floating along in a blue sky. A cool blue, the type that reminds you of the winter months, of clear water, and overall calmness. “Below that, we have the rest of the city off in the distance. Fairly large buildings of beige and gray, the colors of unwavering structure. The colors of order. The colors that only appear when there aren’t any other colors to give it life. Sharp edges, right angles, grid-like layout. Those are the rules these buildings follow. Any creativity, any happiness,...

The students were tasked to imagine they are sitting on a park bench waiting for a friend when a blind man sits down with them and asks them to share what they see. Here are two decidedly different approaches. Kevin paints a word picture that is both brilliantly descriptive and deeply meaningful, more than worthy of his closing line, “I see something you shouldn’t take for granted.” Joshua, on the other hand, gives his blind man some attitude and gets schooled about using all his senses to truly see.   The Park “Aye man, can I sit next to you real quick?” He asked. I looked to the left, and there was an old man standing above me. He was wearing a black jacket, some baggy sweats, and sneakers. He was also holding a cane, and squinting his eyes. “Sure man, go ahead, you’re good.” He sat down next to me, and there was an awkward silence. The man looked like he was about 50 years old. He had bags in his hand, and it looked like he was about to drop them. “Sir, I think you are about to drop your bags, do you need me to hold them for you?” “I ain’t bout to drop nothing, young blood.” He said.” You don’t gotta worry about me man. You think I made it to this bus stop asking people to help me.” “I was just trying to help, my bad.” “I know you were just trying to help, and I appreciate that.But I don’t need any help. I got me.” “Ok, ok, I hear you, my bad” See, this...

A recent prompt: Famous Threesomes. For example: Three Blind Mice. Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato. Beginning, Middle, End.  Madison Hensel takes us on a fantasy ride with Alvin and the Chipmunks while framing her story in the perennial writer’s challenge of getting started. Famous Threesome Friday is my favorite day of the week. After Friday I get to have Saturday and Sunday to relax. Also, on Fridays I have writing class. It’s 9:22 AM and Mr. Don tells us today’s topic is Famous Threesomes. We have a long list to pick from. Some examples: the three blind mice, the three amigos, the three musketeers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the three bears, and the powerpuff girls. If you know anything about me, then you know I am the worst at deciding, I cannot pick one or two because I am indecisive. I sit staring at my computer screen and the list. I have no clue which trio to write about. All of the sudden, I see a chipmunk running around the room. Nobody else seems to notice it though. Am I the only one seeing this chipmunk in a green shirt? Last time I checked, chipmunks don’t wear clothes. The only chipmunks I know that wear clothes are Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. What is happening? Am I crazy? Why do I have to see a chipmunk running around the room? Why can’t everyone else see it? It goes near the kitchen so it must be Theodore because he loves food. I walk in the kitchen and I see Alvin with a spoon singing. What is...

A recent prompt: Famous Threesomes. For example: Three Blind Mice. Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato. Beginning, Middle, End.  Chase Christou weaves a fascinating tale seamlessly incorporating no less than twenty famous threesomes. Famous Threesomes  The beginning I’m sitting around the campfire. Smoke burns my eyes like acid. I’ve already changed my seat three times, but the smoke continues to follow me. I decide to just ignore it. I won’t let this little fire get in my way. Anyway, if I wanted to, I could just spit on the fire and it would go out.  This fire would have no leverage in a fight against me. After all, it is the weakest out of the three elements: earth, fire, and water. I pick up three marshmallows and roast them in the fire. I pull them out before they catch on fire because I’m not a psychopath who eats food that's on fire. I slide them onto my graham cracker and add the chocolate on top with another graham cracker covering it. The perfect s’more. Graham crackers, chocolate, and gooey marshmallows create the perfect late night snack. Before I take a bite of my delicious s’more, I sit it down on my plate and take out my knife, fork, and spoon. The proper way to eat a s’more. If you eat s’mores without utensils, you’re the psychopath. I dig into my perfect s’more. As I’m eating my s’more, I get a Remind message from Mr. Tom.   “Good afternoon, I hope you all are doing absolutely splendidly. I am so sorry for texting you at the extremely late hour of 6:30 P.M., but I must...

The students were shown a video in which two adult characters, a middle-aged man and an older woman, are sitting on a park bench discussing life. The man admits he has recently been suicidal but has now decided to stick around to “maybe make his little corner of the world a slightly happier place.” The woman responds, “That’s all there is, really. Happiness is amazing. It’s so amazing that it doesn’t matter if it’s yours or not.” The students were asked to share their reflections on happiness. Ethan writes that happiness is contagious, going so far as to refer to laughing as a drug to which he is addicted. Pursuit of Happiness Happiness is a very simple thing. Sometimes it can come easily. Other times it can be very hard to find. For me, it doesn’t take much. Small things can make me happy. Laughing is the easiest way for me to bring happiness since it releases dopamine. Laughing is basically my drug, and I’m addicted. I’m always using it, laughing at pretty much anything. Happiness is contagious. It’s so great to be around people who are optimistic or in a positive mood because they can spread that to you. Seeing other people happy is one of the greatest feelings. At least for me it is. I know there are those who see happy people and get angry. That’s definitely the opposite way to go. You should celebrate other people’s happiness, success, and achievements. Don’t envy other people’s happiness; make your own...

The students were shown a video in which two adult characters, a middle-aged man and an older woman, are sitting on a park bench discussing life. The man admits he has recently been suicidal but has now decided to stick around to “maybe make his little corner of the world a slightly happier place.” The woman responds, “That’s all there is, really. Happiness is amazing. It’s so amazing that it doesn’t matter if it’s yours or not.” The students were asked to share their reflections on happiness. Bre’Onna shares how making others happy benefits her and reinforces her own sense of personal growth. Happiness is Amazing “Happiness is amazing. In fact, it is so amazing that it doesn’t even have to be your happiness.” Even though it took me five minutes to agree with this statement, I believe in this saying because seeing others smile, laugh, and grow makes me happy. When I’m feeling down, seeing my nephew smile makes me happy because he’s happy. Making my little brother laugh because he was upset makes me feel happy. Knowing I can cheer someone up brightens my spirit. Analyzing my self-growth makes me feel great because I’ve come a long way. Knowing I can grow makes me want to continue to grow. Everyone goes through things. People tend to hide how they feel so they won’t ruin other people's happiness but, opening up to someone you trust a lot can lead to relief which can then lead to happiness for both of you. Sometimes even talking to someone you don’t know and...

An Elevator Story By Ronan Guilfoyle It’s the end of the 2021-2022 school year, my last year of high school with all these amazing friends, who I now consider family. We’ve talked about doing things together for years, like one big huge trip. Somehow we finally figured out a plan to get it done. Where did we choose, you may ask. Well, we chose the amazing city of New York.  Mr. Don is always mentioning to us that he used to live and work in the city of New York. I’ve only been one time but I dream of going again and seeing all it has to offer. Now, if you know me, you know that I hate doing adventurous things by myself. Constantly, I’m trying to find people to go on car rides with me, go to the movies with me, or just hangout. Point is, I don’t like being alone very much, especially in huge places like New York. So I’m so glad I get to experience it with my classmates. After the painful three hour car ride full of loud conversation between students and Ethan’s annoying laugh we arrive in New York. Parking has always been a huge issue for travelers to the impeccable concrete jungle where dreams are made. Luckily, Mr.Tom has connections wherever we go. We found a parking spot for our van right next to our hotel.  We unload into our rooms, five separate rooms all on the third floor since Mr.Tom hates elevators. Room one was composed of Jayla, Airy, Destiny, and Bre’Onna....

Exotic Expeditions by Myshell Jones “Okay class start writing”  “Okay Mr. Don” (The class says) Now that Mr.Don has told us to start writing; I have no idea what to write. Mr. Don gave us this pretty interesting topic. He gave me a picture of this place named Bhutan. I have no idea what this place is at all or who the people in this picture are. I only have one solution to this problem: ask for help to figure out my problem. I need to go up to Mr. Don and let him know I have no idea what to write about this strange place named Bhutan that I know literally nothing about. (So that’s what I do).   “Hey Mr. Don” (I say) “Hey Myshell, what can I help you with? Wait before you tell me, let me get a drink of my water. My mouth just gets so dry”  “Okay”  “Okay, so what do you need help with Myshell?”  “I just don't know anything about this place at all or these people in the picture that you call the Monks”   “Well Myshell, you don't really need to know anything about Bhutan. What you need to do is put yourself inside of this picture and write about it. I think you can do it.”  “Okay Mr.Don. Well before I go, I have one more question. May I use the bathroom?”  “Of course you can use the bathroom. You don't have to ask me.” “Okay, thank you.”  “Wait Myshell, before you go, enjoy your time in Bhutan.”  Enjoy my time in Bhutan? What is Mr.Don talking about? Maybe he...

Doing the Right Thing by Jayla Nickens-Gill How do you help someone who won’t even help themself? How do you be there for someone who has given up on so much in life? How do you do the right thing, even when it’s hard?  I went to school with a girl. I won’t say her name for privacy reasons, but she was always sad and depressed. She never wanted to try anything or do anything. She would sit by herself and just exist, didn’t look like she was even alive, she probably didn’t feel alive. I would stare at her, trying to figure out what she was thinking about, and ways I could help her, but my mind was blank. I could’ve just gone on with my life, not caring about this girl like all the other students, but I couldn't. I knew I had to help her. One  day I decided that I would be a person she could rely on. When I went to school that day, she was sitting down at one of the lunch tables reading a book. As I made my way over to her, I stopped in my tracks as I watched as the “mean” girl pushed the sad girl off the chair.  The “mean” girl was way taller than me and the sad girl. I walked over and helped the girl off the floor. That’s when I noticed the cuts on her arm. I felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. I felt like I was going to vomit after seeing...