The Spirit of Lake Erie Ink
By Alec Plumley
Alec Plumley was a senior English/Professional Writing Major and Philosophy Minor at John Carroll University who has worked as an intern at LEI during the Spring 2019 semester. He has worked in a leadership role on campus in JCU’s only Co-ed A Cappella group, has extensive experience in theater production, and hopes to pursue a career in technical or creative writing.
It’s a tricky thing, planning a course for the rest of your life, and yet people seem to do it every day. Only a few months ago, the pressure to start making those decisions regarding, what seemed to be, the rest of my life were coming due. One of those decisions was where I would like to complete my internship, a requirement for the Professional Writing major. After searching, I eventually decided to apply to Lake Erie Ink. A non-profit focused on creative writing, specifically for young writers? I was amazed at how perfect it sounded for me. Little did I know that not only would all the writing goals that I set for myself be fulfilled, but also that the uneasiness I had been feeling in regards to my Professional Writing focus was slowly giving way to new confidence.
At first I was nervous, the possibility of working and writing in a professional setting was daunting to me. I had years of experience at work, in and out of the classroom, but in less mature positions. Responsibilities at Lake Erie Ink would be so much more important; emails, deadlines, and staff meetings were things I wasn’t used to, and I was unsure how well I would handle them alone. That was my first misconception about my time at LEI, though I would be working by my own skills, I was never alone.
From my first day in the office, Jill and Amy were always there. They would make sure I understood my task and what they needed from me, allowing me to be confident in my own abilities. Barbra was always there for notes regarding communications and copy going out to participants of our Giant Bananagrams event in March of 2019. The professional writing and office aspects of my time at LEI was infinitely beneficial, and I am deeply grateful.
But of all the responsibilities I became familiar with during my time at LEI the experiences I am sure l will cherish as the most rewarding and (definitely) the most fun, are those I shared with Adam and the kids I met in Ink Spot. Because of my class schedule I unfortunately was only able to consistently help out on Wednesday evenings, but despite only seeing these kids once a week, I grew to know and care about them all immensely. This part of my internship was initially the most intimidating, but by the end of my first day with the kids, I knew every time I arrived in the classroom I would be in for a fun and enriching experience. I cannot thank Adam enough for all of his patience and help as I started to build up my confidence as an adult in the room. The skills and moments I was given at Lake Erie Ink will follow me no matter where I go in the future.
In my last semester as an Undergraduate, I could not dream of a more dedicated and generous group of people to embody what the professional world should really look like. Every member of the LEI community taught me something this year, and I am so thankful that I had a chance to be even a small part of what is sure to be a long and fruitful history. The attitude that every member lives everyday, of instruction and mentorship for the betterment of young people through written expression, really does make a difference in the world. And no matter where I go, I will carry the spirit of Lake Erie Ink with me.
