Listening, Observing, Conversing, and Writing
Reflections from Lake Erie Ink Intern, Maryann H.
As graduation from college drew near, I scheduled an appointment with my professor to talk about internship opportunities. I was looking for a way to combine my interests of teaching writing and working with children, and my professor connected me with Lake Erie Ink. My role in helping with the after school Ink Spot program and with in-school writing programs has been a good fit for me. I enjoy watching the kids as they let their imagination take the form of stories and pictures, and I feel honored whenever they ask to share their work with me.
One day as the students began filing in, the other volunteers and I watched two girls at the far table as they chatted and pulled out their homework. The adult volunteer commented how wonderful it was to see two kids sitting down and having a conversation—after all, in today’s technology-saturated world, we rarely have that kind of face-to-face interaction. To me, that is what makes the environment at the Ink Spot so refreshing. It’s a space for kids to share their talents and creativity, and I enjoy getting to share my passion for writing with them—and, of course, simply taking time to listen.