Six Words

I took the path less traveled.

Let me explain.

At school, my advisory consists of 11th and 12th grade students. A Big Picture graduation requirement is for the seniors to write a 75 page autobiography. Because my students have not been with us for four years (our school is only 2 years old) we have modified the assignment, but none the less, the students are still learning how to write about themselves and capture their experiences.

This year, our school got in contact with an organization at Columbia Teachers College called the Student Press Initiative (SPI). Long story short, the seniors are getting their work published! So awesome. Last week included me traveling to NYC to meet and learn about the process and taking my students to another Big Picture Newark school to kick off the book. I have continued to get more excited about this real, authentic project for the kids. Students who are barely invested in reflecting were excited to share and think more about their lives. The coolest part of our time working with the students was when they wrote their 6-word memoirs. These short phrases will turn into the title of their autobiographical piece.

The director of SPI, Mr. Chen, introduced this idea of a story in 6 words by discussing great conflicts. Especially that between Tupac and Biggie. He then related it further back in history to a rivalry between 2 authors, Hemingway and Faulkner, over the power of lengthy descriptions vs. short words. Hemingway was challenged by a local paper to write a novel... in only 6 words.

His story read as follows:

"For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn."

Mr. Chen shared this with the students. They didn't know what to think or say. But as the discussion continued, I watched one of my students boldly try to unpack the phrase. The others followed suite and spoke about what they thought the meaning was. Mr. Chen then compared the power of words to that of an iceberg. Students worked through what this comparison meant. One student hit it dead on, that stories and words can be unexpectedly powerful.

The morning ended with a challenge to the students to write their own 6-word memoirs. I participated, and try as I might, I was unable to come up with some of the powerful things that the students created in only 10 minutes. Here were some of the titles that they shared:

After the rain, comes the sun.

Everyone dies. But not us yet.

Unspoken words are the most important.

Broken to pieces. Pasted back together.

The person I thought I was.

Don't let the smile fool you.

Mom and dad, please come home.

The list continued and as the students confidently shared pieces of who they were, I couldn't help but get excited for them as I got chills from hearing their words. Students who hate doing work and are obstinate and stubborn were creating bone-chilling, powerfully packed, short phrases because someone validated their voice. Someone cared enough to hear what they have to say to publish their words in a book. That's some pretty powerful stuff.

This weekend, I have been thinking about what my 6-word memoir would be. When compared with my student's powerful, tear-jerking life experiences, mine seem obsolete and quite silly. My life has been a piece of cake when put in contrast with the things my students have had to go through. But, my story is part of God's story. My story is indeed unique because God has redeemed my path. I may not have had the trials and tribulations of inner city childhood, but I have made some hard, radical choices that took me out of my comfort zone. Through it all, God has directed my steps and brought blessings because of the road that I have chosen.

I took the path less traveled.

I can only pray that my students will some day find that there is a great path marked out for them. As I continue to learn and grow in my faith and discover what it means to follow God's path for my life, I hope that His grace will some day weave into their stories as well.