Why Write?
Heavy D & Mac came into existence years ago as an effort on the part of two English teachers to motivate our students to go out on a limb and share anything and everything on their mind. Sometimes students ask us why writing is so important. I want to share an incident from class last night that I think will help bring some clarity as to why we encourage writing so much.
In class last night, Heavy D and I were taking part in an in-class writing assignment where our professor asked the class to respond to the simple question, “why write?” After being given some time to write, our professor split us up in to groups. My group did not have much to say regarding the question, but when time came for us to meet back as a class our professor asked if there were any volunteers who like to share. One student volunteered, and after she went our professor asked if he could have one more volunteer before he moved on. I don’t know if he wasn’t impressed by the responses — he had gone around group by group to listen to our passages. No one was raising their hands, so Heavy D decided to volunteer. I have included below what he came up with in a matter of minutes. What was even more impressive was the fact that our professor was suddenly interested in hearing more responses.
Here is what Heavy D had to say:
Why write?…Why look into a mirror? It is to observe yourself and the contours of your face. In the same way, writing allows you to see the contours of your soul. Writing lets you see the depth of your own heart like a mirror lets you see the depth of your own eyes. Writing is the metaphysical, metaphoric mirror with which to see your inner self. Hold the page of printed words up to your face and you will see yourself staring back at you. Not your physical self but your real self, your spiritual self. This mirrored image of yourself now captured on the page allows you to show yourself to others and let them imprint their thought, their ideas, and their soul onto it. Behold this is now a reflective mirror for all others to see what is in themselves by comparison or contrast. Writing is to reveal yourself and to reveal all those who read it.
Although I feel ashamed of even trying to write anything after the writings of Batman – but then again who wouldn’t, I think it is true that one of the only things that allows us to look into our souls in today’s time is writing, a true mirror of our inner thoughts and not any impulse or reactions to life around us (
IMPULTH … if u get that ). Above all else writing makes us think about who we are and what we want to be.
January 13, 2012 at 12:42 am
Writing is a form of art, there is no right or wrong answer. Since there are no restrictions or boundaries in writing everyone is capable of do so. In math and science there are right and wrong answers and specific methods of finding out corrects answers, where as writing is unrestricted and free. Through writing one can express themselves, and enter into a new world. Writing can help ease tension, preserve memories, and most importantly help us stay connected with ourselves.
February 4, 2012 at 2:05 am
A very astute observation, Ms. Hashmi. I would recommend to anyone and everyone who asked that they continue writing, be it privately or publicly. If we stop, the math and science teachers will win.
February 8, 2012 at 2:14 am