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"Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try" —John F. Kennedy | Because it marks a period of conflict, change, and an opportunity to tell a story that is a marker of the end of childhood. Also, it’s a chance to really learn how to write well, to push against certain restrictions, word count, topic, and practice all the stages of good writing: brainstorming, prewriting, creating a thesis, outlining, writing a powerful conclusion, and then doing it all again in another draft. The college admission essay has a focus, an audience, and can be the first time your student has connected writing with passion. Here’s a description of adolescent development provided by the Upstate Center of Excellence:

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“Writing is the only thing that when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” —Gloria Steinem | If we agree writing is art like painting or music, why is there so much focus on the selling of writing as opposed to the process? Yes, painters and musicians want to support themselves through their work, but writers are the group that are most likely to be asked the following questions: 1) How much did you get paid? 2) How many books did you sell? 3) When will the movie come out? 4) When will your next novel get published? 5) Are you still writing There are more variations, but the main message is: Are you a real writer? Are you a successful writer? Why don’t you give up, you unpublished fool?

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My mom used to always tell me I was helpful. I wanted something different — brilliant or unique or possibly pretty. Helpful seemed like something that would wear a bonnet or sweep ashes off the hearth or murmur suggestions while remaining abashed. That was not me. When I worked in a large suburban school the secretary once suggested I wait until the men spoke before I said anything. I did not do that. I also made it a practice to protect and defend my students from anything that smacked of unfairness. However, I was also helpful. I gave other teachers my lesson plans and resources and trained student teachers and tried to bring other creative writers to visit my English classes and help my students feel better about reading and writing. I wrote college recommendation letters and if a student needed me for more than an academic reason, I was there. My boundaries were healthy. I did not invite students to my house or let them call me at home, but my door was open, and I stayed to hear whatever they needed to tell me. I handed back their papers swiftly with notes and encouraging comments.

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