The Origin Project
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The Origin Project Book Three | 2017 The Origin Project Book Three | 2017 The Origin Project “All writing is communication; creative writing is communication through revelation —it is the Self-escaping into the open.” —E.B. White Writing is an essential part of life: it is a lens through which we view each other and the world academically, professionally, and per- sonally. The Origin Project, co-founded by best-selling author and film director Adriana Trigiani and education advocate and longtime friend Nancy Bolmeier Fisher, seeks to in- spire young people to discover and release their inner voices through the craft of writing about their unique Appalachian origins. Now in its fourth year, TOP continues to follow its mission of bringing best selling au- thors and artists into classrooms to ignite the imaginations and storytelling abilities of the students and to discuss the creation of the students’ narratives in stories, poems, letters, journals, and plays. In October of 2016, Margot Lee Shetterly, author of “Hidden Figures,” presented two programs for our students from the stage of the Barter Theatre. Students were enthralled to hear that Hidden Figures takes place in Virginia. Margot joined previous bestselling authors David Baldacci, Mary Hogan, and Meg Wolitzer in visiting and inspir- ing our budding writers. As students have become published writers for the first time, they’ve learned how to cre- ate, craft, and edit their work. They now enter literary competitions: winning and placing in the John Fox Jr. Literary Festival, the Barter Young Playwrights Festival, and Poetry Out Loud (sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts/VA Commission for the Arts). The Origin Project family has grown from the 40 ninth grade pioneers at Union High School in Big Stone Gap to include nearly 1,000 students in fourth to twelfth grades at Powell Valley Middle School, Norton Elementary School, Eastside High School, Lee High School, Flatwoods Elementary School, Appalachia Elementary School, and Abingdon High School. We sponsor field trips to the Southwest Virginia Museum’s Festival of the Trees and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, where our students not only enjoy the displays but learn about the role museums play in conservation, history and culture, which gives them inspiration for their own developing writing, research and storytelling skills. Our schools con- duct their own exciting versions of Appalachian Heritage days, presenting music, dance and drama from a historical perspective. Individual students reach out to Ms. Bolmeier Fisher, Ms. Trigiani and our guest authors for guidance and mentorship. We often provide feedback on their projects and contest submissions beyond the borders of The Origin Project. This book, our third volume, presents the creations of our students as they share their experiences growing up in the mountains of southwest Virginia, proudly embracing the rich cultural heritage of Appalachia in prose, poetry, and the visual arts, celebrating their roots and the landscape of their dreams . in a place called “Home.” TaBle of ConTenTs Kicking off the Year 1 Abingdon High School 5 Appalachia Elementary School 31 Eastside High School 47 Flatwoods Elementary School 59 Lee High School 137 Norton Elementary School 205 Powell Valley Middle School 231 Union High School 275 Literary Competitions 371 Barter Theatre 397 Hidden Figures 405 Before and After 419 In Gratitude 425 Index 427 KICKING OFF THE YEAR Powell Valley students swinging into the new year! Sheila Shuler sharing high interest ideas to give stu- Hope Cloud (left) sharing poetry written by students dents background knowledge prior to the students in her Creative Writing class; Cheryl Duncan (right) writing about their heritage explaining ideas for authentic writing instruction Our students began their academic year with a visit from Ms. Bolmeier Fisher—joined by retired teachers Linda Woodward and Grace Bradshaw—during which journals were distrib- uted. This is intended to kick off the process of students’ deciding their topic for the school year: the journals belong to them: they are encouraged to fill the journals with their own ideas and thoughts. The dedicated retired educators, along with talented current teachers in the classroom, guide students on their submissions for the annual anthology. Current teachers met with Nancy, Linda, and Grace in an evening session to discuss expe- riences from the previous year and to share ideas for making the new year even more illumi- nating and meaningful for our students. Student Comments: My Journal Yesterday, I got a journal. I think it feels like silk or fleece. I really want to write in it forever. I was not really nervous, but I’m very excited. So, I’m pretty much happy. I got to meet Ms. Nancy. She’s really nice! Sheila Sizemore, Gretta Carroll, Dr. Renia Clark, Matthew Stanley (left) sharing Union’s presentation Sheila Shuler, and Alex Long discussing ideas for about Appalachian Heritage Day; Gigi Long (right) collaboration and co-teaching within the inclusion classroom 2 kiCking off The Year Abingdon students with teacher, Dr. Crystal Hurd (front right) Lee High Powell Valley News Article Student Comments: My Journal When I first got my journal, it felt smooth and soft, like cloth. Nancy Fisher and Adriana Trigiani gave it to me to write about where we are from for The Origin Project. Student Comments: Skyping With Adriana When I went to the library to Skype with Adriana, she gave me advice about how to write a good story. She told me to use my five senses and to tell how the person I’m interviewing talks or smells or looks. Student Comments: My Journal My journal is very special to me because Ms. Nancy gave it to me. It is very, very, very, unique because it’s very soft and it smells good. I hope to write a lot in this journal. I was so nervous when I got it. I thank Adriana Trigiani for it. Flatwoods students happily showing off new journals Powell Valley students excited about new journals kiCking off The Year 3 Union boys with new journals Union girls with new journals Student Comments: My Journal A few of us got to read what we had written to her. She gave us tips about writing. She also talked to us about details. She said to put what you see, feel, and hear. Adriana gave us really good tips about our writing. 4 kiCking off The Year aBingdon high sChool Grandma Whiteaker’s Rum Cake Recipe 1 box yellow cake mix Mix all together and bake at 350 for 30–40 minutes. 1 small box instant vanilla pudding While cake is hot mix together and boil for 3 minutes: 4 eggs 1 cup sugar ½ cup water 1 stick margarine ½ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup water ½ cup light rum ¼ cup light rum Pour over hot cake while still in pan. Let sit for 15–20 minutes. Dump cake and allow to cool. My grandma loved to bake. She was always a homemade-gifts-are-better-than-store- bought-gifts kind of person. For Christmas each year she would clean off her counter and line up items for her famous rum cake. My mom and aunt would help her assemble and bake, laughing the whole time. One year she made almost two dozen cakes. The house smelled like heaven. I was young so was only allowed a taste of the nonalcoholic one, but my cousin, Zachary, was a bit older. He was allowed a slice of the “real” cake. He loved it. In fact he loved it so much that he kept sneaking in for another slice and another slice over that evening. Within a few hours most of that cake was gone. Poor Zak was vomiting in the bathroom as well. My aunt connected the dots. Since my grandma has passed, someone had to take up the cake-baking reins. One night two years ago, Zak came by and suggested we make one. We did. It was glorious. Our house smelled just like Grandma’s. Since that night, I think I have made this cake a dozen times. Sometimes it turns out perfect and sometimes not so much. We all agree that’s the way it’s supposed to be since it’s made with love and laughter. Jared ADAMs, GRADE 10 I Am From a Place I am from a place where you go outside and see the mountaintops. I am from a place where you smell fresh pine. I am from a place where people are very friendly. I am from a place where you can get biscuits and gravy in bed. I am from a place where you can hear birds chirping a mile away. I am from a place where the sun and clouds hug the mountains. I am from a place where sports are our lives. I am from a place that when it snows, even a little, everyone takes a day off. I am from a place where we take pride seriously. I am from southwest Virginia. ANDREW alBRO, GRADE 10 6 aBingdon high sChool I Am I am from Southwest Virginia. I am a lover of rolling hills, tall trees, and foggy mountain tops. I am a believer that soup beans and cornbread are really what makes you grow. I am a God-fearing Christian, attending a small church with a congregation who knows everyone’s name and will bring you dinner when you’re down or sick. I am from a town where wearing camo to school isn’t a rare occurrence, where going hunting isn’t just for fun, but for a week’s worth of dinner, where it’s okay to wear jeans, boots, and a flannel to church because that’s as nice as it gets around here.