A Proud “Word Nerd”

At Harkness Elementary, Raymundo was constantly impressing us with his creativity and work ethic. As a returning Inker, Raymundo proudly wore his “Word Nerd” shirt under his gray cardigan during workshops. He happily contributed to every session and helped create a warm environment for the entire classroom. During group stories, he was excited to find ways to incorporate other students’ ideas into the existing story. Raymundo was a team player and was welcoming to everyone within the classroom community.  

What made Raymundo really shine during workshops was his willingness to learn and practice. The writing was more than completing a brief story and never going back to it. He was eager to finely hone his craft and receive feedback, which most younger writers fear the most. When our guest editor Michael came for a visit, he clung to him like pigment on paint, hoping to learn from his advice.  

Mr. Hamburger

At 916 Ink, Wordslingers are given front row seats to the Inkers’ creative process. With Raymundo, we were able to see his works grow by the week, a trait that will take him far in any of his future creative endeavors. Each week, we enjoyed learning more about his ongoing series: “The adventures of Ketchup Man and Mustard Man.” Stepping into class, Raymundo would thrust from his backpack a new illustration of the latest dastardly villain that Ketchup Man must thwart. My favorite was Mr. Hamburger who I hope returns in future sequels.  

It was a pleasure to get to know Raymundo, and I look forward to seeing him again in future years with 916 Ink. 

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The Value of Small Conversations

As the first workshop at Gerber Jr./Sr. High School began, there was a typical introduction from each student.  Isaiah told me about his life at home — how he has been “moved around more than dice at a casino”. He told me about his family, the ups and downs and how he felt a little more to the left than to the right sometimes. He told me about his dreams, how he dreamt of purely being happy. He told me that he had done a 916 Ink program before and that he loved to write.

He was self-conscious about his handwriting, and when I suggested that he could share his ideas and I could transcribe, his eyes lit up with universes of stars. He dictated to me every word of his stories and he was amazed at how fast his thoughts were put on paper. Eventually, he wrote his own stories and shared them with me so that we could write more together.

Music was his escape from the stressors of life, and it was something that he could relate so easily to his writing. He always wore headphones and had his laptop out ready to start his playlist. You would think that he would be sucked into a black hole of never-ending music that keeps him content, but every time I asked for his attention, he immediately gave it to me.

Isaiah asked questions that most other students felt too shy to ask. He was always the first one to share his work, no matter how personal or funny it seemed to be to everyone. He made everyone smile through his jokes or through his laugh that echoed around every corner of the room. Anytime ANYONE read a piece, he was the first to compliment them and give the most wonderful and loving feedback.

He gave me motivation and just pure happiness every single week that he wrote with us. I will never forget the kind words he had for my writing or the small acts of genuine caring that he did for me. He changed my view on how much small conversations can mean – because now I value each one, and I will forever.

Thank you, Isaiah, for opening my eyes a little more, and reminding me why I love the work I do.

*You can help us make more stories like Isaiah's possible. By donating, you make it possible for us to hold these creative writing workshops that empower students and teach them to be confident writers. Since 2011 we have published almost 4,000 students, and Isaiah is now one of those published. Please help us transform even more Sacramento area youth!

Student Spotlight: Molly

Meet Molly, one of our most experienced inkers here at 916 Ink! With her playful and upbeat attitude, she shines in the classroom and helps make our workshops a positive environment for everyone involved. Her writing is always a joy and delight to listen to, and she helpfully models the 916 Ink method without even thinking about it, taking her work and that of others seriously. She helps keep the class moving forward, not only by sharing her work but also carefully listening to the work of her peers and providing them with well thought out positive feedback.

“I really like practicing my writing skills and being able to express myself through my words,” Molly commented when reflecting on her experience, “I think 916 Ink is a good environment to do that. I like writing with my friends. You get to hear a lot of different styles.”

At our Amplify middle school book release party, her mother expressed equal joy in Molly having the opportunity to express herself through writing. “The Imaginarium is a wonderfully creative space, and at this young age Molly has this incredible support system to help her flourish. Learning the power of her voice will serve her well as she grows.”

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Her writing has been featured in three of our anthologies so far, and as a current student in our new class, Author’s Lab, she’s well on her way to publishing more amazing pieces for readers to enjoy. It’s been a thrill to watch her develop and grow throughout these workshops, and seeing a student thrive the way she has is the reason we work so hard at 916 Ink.