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In all my search for inspiration to write, create, or complete, I hadn’t considered that the key to abundant inspiration lay, quite literally, right under my nose.
It was a school-wide project that each student and teacher at my job participated in that reawakened the stories, strengths, and inspiration that our five senses hold. Our classroom was assigned the sense of smell. Immediately I thought, “lavender.” The more I collaborated with the students to gather their thoughts, the more their inspiration grew, along with my own. Quickly our satchels of scent blossomed into different textures, colors, and feelings as we added dried oranges, cinnamon, clove, pine needles and pine cones to our collection of smells. Soon I realized how meaningful the scent of smell was. Not only can it soothe our emotions and stimulate the brain, but it is also much more interconnected to the remaining four scents than I had noticed before. Bringing feelings of joy, mixtures of various colors, soothing sounds when held, and most definitely the longing to taste all the delicious smells. At the completion of the school project, I saw the magic of the five senses come to life in new and unique ways. This experience ignited new perspectives of the senses and equally, the lack thereof. I carried this with me and embedded the newfound appreciation the five senses highlighted into my writing and creative projects. I found that the best way to do this is by actively tuning into each sense when struck with creativity or trying to get inspired. In your writing or creative process, for the sense of smell, how would the setting, characters, or tone smell? What would that add or take away to the story? Additionally, what thoughts or emotions does that provoke? Now we can also begin to take away some senses, like sight. What would be highlighted, any feelings, sounds, smells, or tastes? In what way does this change the dynamic of the story? We can even use this process when it comes to coming up with a new idea. Taking a look around you now, which sense is the strongest? If it’s sight, what is the most vivid thing around you? Most dull? What feelings do these colors provoke? If it's a smell, where does this smell come from? What does it look like? Feel like? What place does this smell take you? If it's a sound, what are you hearing? What would it look like? Where does your body resonate most with this sound, in the head, hands, feet? These thought provoking questions work for any and all senses and are the perfect way to get, and keep, those creative juices flowing.
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Before being offered this opportunity, I had never heard about the Teaching Experience Program. Though, as a part of my internship duties, I had the pleasure of connecting and collaborating with the students and professors of TEP. Coming into this, I didn't quite understand what this program held and the vast opportunities it provides for Rowan Writing Arts students. The Teaching Experience Program allows students who are completing their Masters in Arts of Writing to also work at Rowan as higher education teachers. It is described that this program “allows students to teach college composition as paid adjunct instructors while completing a Master of Arts in Writing.”
I was given the task to interview the students of the TEP program to create unique introductions for Rowan’s Writing Arts website and newsletter. To start, I connected with Professor Royek who was a joy to work with. He gave me a brief rundown of the program and allowed me the creative freedom to ask questions and conduct research of the TEP students. To do this, I first created a Google form to gather the following information; the hometown of the TEP students, their educational journey thus far, why they chose Rowan, and what they are seeking to get out of this program. Their responses were eye opening. For many, this program was quite literally a dream come true. Most of these students knew they were destined to be teachers and had Rowan on their radar to help them manifest this into reality. My favorite part quickly became reading their answer submissions and writing their introductions. I felt so personally connected to each thought-out response that I wholly intended to capture the true essence of these students as precisely as I could. My goal was to accurately showcase their tone, authenticity, and story within each bio. From all the responses, I noticed one common theme: gratitude. Each student expressed their gratitude toward this program, Rowan University, the writing arts community, and staff for offering a space for them to follow and reach their goals. It was truly an honor to read, write, and represent the TEP students in this way. If you are interested in learning more about this program check out the newsletter and Q&A here. |
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