Senior says it in six words
Carly Wolfe, a senior at Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, took part in the Six-Word Memoir project earlier this fall.
Erin Centa, who teaches English, heard about the project about three years ago, and has had her 12th-graders work on it each year. The idea is simple: participants are asked to tell their life stories in six words.
Wolfe, who collects miniature VW Beetles and wants to travel, came up with “I am leaving to never return”. She said the exercise taught her to express her thoughts concisely. Wolfe enjoyed the experience so much she is going to try to incorporate it into the work she does with children affected by muscular dystrophy.
Six-Word Memoir was invented by veteran journalist Larry Smith when he realized he knew very little about the life of Morris Smith, his grandfather. After interviewing Morris for over two hours, Smith decided to ask other people about their lives, but with a difference. He challenged readers to write their memoirs in six words. More than 10,000 people responded.
The program has picked up speed since Smith moved to the Columbus area with his wife Piper Kerman, who wrote ‘Orange Is the New Black’. Kerman teaches writing at two prisons in central Ohio.
School officials could work with a newsletter printing company to develop a letter for parents about the project and asking them to encourage students to participate.
Erin Centa, who teaches English, heard about the project about three years ago, and has had her 12th-graders work on it each year. The idea is simple: participants are asked to tell their life stories in six words.
Wolfe, who collects miniature VW Beetles and wants to travel, came up with “I am leaving to never return”. She said the exercise taught her to express her thoughts concisely. Wolfe enjoyed the experience so much she is going to try to incorporate it into the work she does with children affected by muscular dystrophy.
Six-Word Memoir was invented by veteran journalist Larry Smith when he realized he knew very little about the life of Morris Smith, his grandfather. After interviewing Morris for over two hours, Smith decided to ask other people about their lives, but with a difference. He challenged readers to write their memoirs in six words. More than 10,000 people responded.
The program has picked up speed since Smith moved to the Columbus area with his wife Piper Kerman, who wrote ‘Orange Is the New Black’. Kerman teaches writing at two prisons in central Ohio.
School officials could work with a newsletter printing company to develop a letter for parents about the project and asking them to encourage students to participate.