I am a writer...kinda.

So as I look back on the past three weeks, I could not be more grateful for the NVWP.  I can honestly say that I was reluctant to begin, and even a little wary as I finished up the first day.  New people, a syllabus, reading, and tons of writing-ahhhhhh!  For 13 years I have taught writing to over a thousand students.  Not until recently did I start writing with them, and never once have I considered myself a writer.  Which is truly strange because I wrote all of the time when I was younger.  I wrote books, poems, and songs.  I wrote for the paper in high school and in college.  And oddly enough, when I became a teacher I stopped writing (mainly because I did not feel like I had time).    The NVWP helped me create time for my writing.  It provided me with an outlet, a comfortable platform to test the writing waters again.  I mean, I can’t just jump off the high dive into 12 feet right away, right?  This past year has been the hardest year for me, and through the writing I have done in the past three weeks I have been able to let go of a lot of anger and frustration.  And for that, I am eternally grateful.  So thank you NVWP,  I can officially call myself a writer...kinda.