Passion gives us strength even in our darkest moments, serving as a beacon of hope that we can resort to. For some, it may exist in the form of blasting music with headphones on; for others, it’s the comfort one feels when painting watercolor on canvas. No matter what category it fits into, we all have specific things that let our creativity loose. For many UHS students, passion takes its form in writing.
Although often considered a chore by students who can only think of tedious schoolwork essays, writing nevertheless remains a loved activity for many. With its diverse forms of expression such as poetry, creative writing and prose, writing opens up an outlet of escape for artists to freely express themselves without any restraints or limitations placed on them by the “real world.”
“It’s like a separate world you can escape to,” sophomore Claudia Cheng said. “You don’t need to limit yourself to what’s possible in this world as you can freely create your own characters, live in their shoes and fall in love with your own mind.”
For many, it is the vicarious thrills one feels living through the characters that were once only pure imaginations. It is not simply telling a story through pen and paper.
“Writing allows me to create a world that’s straight out of my imagination and when I put those thoughts into words, I can bring readers into my imagination as well,” junior Kimberly Tsai said. “It’s alluring to be able to bring characters that only ever existed in my thoughts to life and experience a different life through a character’s perspective.”
Not only does it release the stress and burden off of one’s chest, but writing also empowers individuals and encourages them to explore new perspectives that might otherwise be inhibited by their everyday lives. As the artist admires the world they created, imbued with life and feeling, there is also a sense of pride that comes with it. The freedom of letting yourself loose in words and forgetting all its interferences brings confidence to many artists.
“There are no rules to what you can write, even in prose, where the form is limited, there are still an infinite number of possibilities you can write about,” senior Vivian Huang said. “I mainly write poetry, which is even more limitless; structure is a choice and you can even bend the grammar rules we are bound to in academic writing.”
Unlike many students who see writing as a burdensome task that they must do in school, true writers see writing as an artistic expression, comparable to conventional art.
“The same use of creativity and skills that are used in other art forms like painting and drawing can often be found in writing,” Huang said. “Writing, just like all other art, requires the use of imagination and technique.”
Some might have a passion for the art but lack the motivation or the confidence to pursue the passion. This can often be solved by honing in on areas that one might be weak at and maintaining strong perseverance.
“Writing isn’t something the majority of people are inherently good at, but rather something they should work towards if they have a passion for their creation,” Cheng said.
Writing should never be seen as a mundane task; with the right techniques and a positive mindset, it can be a fulfilling experience. For those who are struggling to appreciate the art, consider trying out diverse forms of writing expressions to see which one you gravitate towards. For those who are continuing their passion, keep exploring the possibilities, embracing the journey and sharing your stories with the world.
