We are all storytellers. The skill to narrate engaging personal tales is crucial in various situations, such as K-12 school admissions, college applications, summer program entries, club elections, and job interviews. However, despite its importance, systematic training in storytelling is often absent from the K-12 educational curriculum.

This course will focus on the stories that we, as writers, tell others about ourselves and our communities. In order to build our understanding of both the form and function of the personal essay, we will be looking at examples from both creative nonfiction and fiction. Students who complete this course will:

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• Gain the skills needed to execute the genre of personal essay writing that has become essential to K-12 school/college admissions;

• Cultivate a life-long habit of intensive self-examination and build a unique sense of the self to stand out.

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Students should expect 1-2 hours of weekly homework, including readings and writing projects. Throughout the course, the mentor offers essential oral feedback on writing and written feedback at the end of each multi-phase project.