Author Archives: hmadams

Money Lines Week 4-6

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The writing is heating up at Shortridge, but the weather just doesn’t seem to want to keep up. The students these past few weeks have delved into some deep poems and extremely creative stories. From the writing-and-guessing game “Two Truths and a Lie” to writing “How To…” poems and guides, the students have branched out of their shells and moved into complex works.

It’s fun to see the confidence of the students grow in their abilities to write… here’s some excerpts from some veteran and rookie writers.

“The Lies I Tell” by Emily
Money Line: I can help everyone & stop pain in its tracks. 
I can save the world & be remembered for something great.

“Just Fine” by Paula
Money Line: This time/ 
I’m gonna be just fine
/ felt like the end of the world.
Turns out/ 
it was the start of a new life.

“Untitled” by Eric S.
Money Line: Fans do not blow air/ 
Heaters don’t give heat/ Stories do not give…something

“How To Listen” by Kyla
Money Line: Hear the finch’s symphonies he reinvents Mozart.

“Don’t Cut, Cut This” by Jammonica
Money Line: And I’ll write you a letter.
 And I would say, darling, you’re okay. 
I smile when you smile. The whole room 
lights up. Turn that smile upside. 

“Spell Trap” by Jaymison
Money Line: Equality/Not ever hearing the word that you/ 
are unique, 
just hearing you are all the same/ 
You’ll never be different.

New Friends, New Knowledge

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Time to introduce a new mentor blogger. Everyone say hey to the newest voice that will be contributing to the website as a member of the BU mentor team at Exclusive Ink. Meet Hayley, a junior at Butler majoring in History and English Literature:

There have been some big shoes to fill this semester at Shortridge. As the Butler mentors nervously stood in the corner like we were back in High School, the emotions of the students flooding into the classroom ranged from excitement to sadness as they searched for the faces of their favorite mentors from last year.
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Sadly, many of them have either graduated or have had their schedules change. Thankfully, though, the students’ passion and enthusiasm for writing and generally hanging out allowed for some fast friendships to develop with the new Butler mentors. The consensus among the new mentors is that the members of Exclusive Ink really have become our friends.

I guess this is the part where I say something I’ve learned from my first few weeks of being a new Butler mentor. Lesson number one of working with the students? We are totally equal with them. From day one, it was easy to know that the Butler Mentors could learn just as much from the students’ creative strategies. As cliche as it sounds, they’re the ones teaching us to write. I’m confident that this class will become one of the most important learning experiences for me as a mentor and student.

Contributed by Hayley