#1 Thoughts Under an Oak Tree
I am here because I am interested in being part of a class that is more than book reports and numbered worksheets. I’m not sure what to expect but it’s refreshing to be in a place that I’ve never been to before but that I believe will be supportive of my ideas, surrounded by people I don’t know but who want to make some sort of difference in the world just as much as me. Just like Tim mentioned at the beginning of his presentation, this class presents us with a blank page and a world of resources that will stand behind us, no matter what path we choose to take. I’m excited to explore the possibilities of what this “blank page” could mean to me and the other students here. Seeing everyone sitting around the room this morning and understanding that we each came here with a common goal to learn from our resources, our communities, and each other, I have quite a bit of hope that this course will be both eye-opening and empowering. I’m not yet sure of what I want to take away from this course but I do know that I hope to find enough inspiration in whichever story I choose to focus on, that grades and success are not my main motivations for caring about the issue. So, as I’m sitting under an oak tree, writing this post, I am looking forward to finding out the many answers to the question, “what is the story?”.
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Rachael,
So glad you decided to join WtS and that you’re excited about our blank page / resource rich approach.
It’s perfectly okay that you’re uncertain how you will fill in that blank page. The assignments leading up to and through our first overnight will help with this.
Finally, I love your featured image and how it refers to an image that popped up at the end of your post. Smart to choose this image after writing the post.
Have a great week.
Bill Rich
Rachel,
As a professional writer who has confronted the “blank page” numerous times, I understand your feeling. A couple of thoughts… ideas come from questions and/or observations: what bothers you? what do you wonder about? what do you notice?
I used to jot down ideas every day. Then I’d try to forget them (it’s become a lot easier for me on that score as I’ve gotten older! 🙂 ) If the idea or question or moment of observation returned, I’d think about it more and then try to forget again.
If the idea came back a third time, then I’d set down to dig deeper. Your ideas will come. Be prepared to discard some. Find the one that excites you.
A word on your writing — tight, concise. I love how you completed the circle and came back to the intro. I agree with Bill, nice photo to get me in the mood. I like, too, that it IS an oak tree.
cheers,
geoff gevalt
Hello Geoff,
I really appreciate this comment because when I got it, it really made me think about the things around me that have made the greatest impact on my life and how I could tie that into a social issue. I see what you mean about how reoccurring thoughts are important to be aware of. I think in this process it can be very easy to just let every thought go in your mind and see what happens but it’s those ideas that keep coming back to you that mean something.
Thank you,
Rachael
Hi Racheal!
There was so much in your post that I related to. I feel very similar to you with a “blank page.” Though I have a topic, I really don’t know where I’m going to go with it yet. I’m excited to see how this year unfolds.
-Neva