Pizza Vs. Demon Bird - One Volunteer's Field Trip Experience

Character building on a Storytelling & Bookmaking Field Trip

It still seems unreal to me that on a regular Wednesday morning I was able to transcribe a story about a marshmallow and a pizza fighting a demon bird on the moon. The truth is I’m still stunned by these crazy characters created by some wild and vivid imaginations. Volunteering with the Storytelling & Bookmaking Field Trips at 826 MSP gives me the opportunity to work with 2nd-4th graders, and of course, to be awed by their innocent creativity and innovative ideas. Even though I was a student of their age only 10 years ago, now that I’m an adult, it’s much harder to let my imagination run freely. Children’s unique creativity and positivity are not plagued by our restraining grown-up rules.

Jingfan Hu as the Typist

As a matter of fact, writing can be a great chance to celebrate imagination and inspiration for these young authors at 826 MSP. No templates, no stiff rules, no judgments. The 3rd graders from Moreland Elementary created a wild world: a hero that has a pizza for a head; a villain who steals PlayStation controllers; an 80-year-old sidekick who looks only 20 years old. Young students are able to articulate their whimsical ideas through writing and most importantly, to freely express themselves at 826 MSP’s Storytelling & Bookmaking Field Trips. As a volunteer at 826 MSP, I get to be immersed in innocent joy and childlike happiness once in a while.

Story written by Moreland Elementary students

As a college student writing academic essays, I find the necessity of following rules and patterns highly stressful and sometimes even dreary. For this reason, I have become more appreciative of being able to think outside of the box when writing. This is exactly what 826 MSP is trying to present to these students: writing and thinking without inhibition is a vital source of fun. Also, writing can come in many different forms. This style of teaching shows 826 MSP’s willingness to include different and diverse perspectives, as any kind of story endings and characters are allowed. It’s crucial to advocate creativity, equity, and inclusion throughout all stages of a student’s development. Making writing expressive and original is a unique way that 826 MSP achieves this goal.