Write of Passage
By Cara Nissman / Boston Herald / Monday, July 15, 2002
Chandra Johnson always enjoyed writing. She often composed poems and chronicled her triumphs and disappointments in her journal. But she fest as if something was missing, as if she had merely scratched the surface of her creativity.
"I felt like I needed to know more about different writing styles," said Johnson, 14, of Worcester. "I felt like I was doing well, but instead of just writing, 'I liked this' I wanted to make my writing more detailed."
Johnson is one of nearly 100 middle school and high schoolers participating in The Writers' Express for four weeks this summer. The program, which is celebrating its eighth year, aims to teach young people there's more to writing than grammar and thesis statements.
"Grammar
is the least of it," said Mansour Abdur-Rahim, 17, of Mattapan, who has
been in the program for five years. "It's more about creative writing." 
After five years in the program, Abdur-Rahim said he has learned to examine the world around him.
"I notice a lot more of the little details," said Abdur-Rahim, who earns a salary as a junior counselor. "I learned to pay attention to everything around me, like the breezy day or the way things sound."
For inspiration, campers engage in traditional camp activities, such as canoeing or rock-climbing, then write about their experiences.
It was easy to write immediately after canoeing "because it's still fresh in your memory," said Johnson, who is attending the camp for a second year. "I couldn't wait to write it down because it was so much fun."
Last week, participants learned how to create and decorate handmade paper in a cavernous South Boston art studio. Flanked by beams with flaking gray and blue paint (and a wall drawing of a unicorn), campers and counselors watched slides about the paper-making process and artist Bev Sky demonstrating how to fashion a forest, then created their own colorful pulp self-portraits.
The program also exposes participants to art galleries and music and dance performances. For teens who still are reeling from MCAS exam, The Writers' Express provides a welcome creative release.
"I came to this program (three years ago) right after MCAS testing, thinking that writing's evil," said junior counselor Pat Kelleher-Calnan, 16, of Melrose. "The MCAS makes writing seem like work. It was very tedious. But this program showed me writing can be a creative outlet, like art or music. It turned me on to writing for fun."
The program's method of criticism fosters self-confidence, said Abdur-Rahim. Staff members and campers frequently cluster in a circle to discuss their writing.
"Many
kids struggle with not being comfortable reading in front of people and
taking risks in their writing," said Abdur-Rahim. "But you have
to get to know everybody and rely on each other to get the most out of
(the program), so you learn social skills."
"It is hard work to be creative, to pull ideas out of your head and write them down," said Kelleher-Calnan. "But this program can be helpful for kids even if they don't want to become writers."
Abdur-Rahim said even if he doesn't pursue writing in the future, this organization, which also runs after-school programs in the Boston area, has fostered other useful skills.
"I don't think my life's ambition is to write, but it's like a habit," he said. "You never look at things the same way. And you learn how to (better) express yourself."
