As Her Writing Career Takes Off, One GWN Mentee Alum Looks Back

By Stephanie Nolasco
GWN Mentee, 2001–2004

The air is cold and crisp, but not even the icy wind blowing could make the beads of sweat running down my back stop. The train rumbles, and I stare at my damp sheet of paper, memorizing important facts about myself. I place the sheet down on my shaking lap and then read my essay for the millionth time. It’s a piece that my GWN mentor Sarah Talbot and I have been working on for weeks. We read each line slowly, searching for any hidden flaws. She smiles and reassures me that I’ll be fine. Despite fearing the results of my upcoming interview, I sigh in relief, knowing that I couldn’t have gone to Sarah Lawrence College in faraway Bronxville without Sarah by my side. She believes in me, and if she’s willing to see me succeed, I have to show her that I’m ready to make my writing career a reality.

I was 16 years old when my mentor Sarah accompanied me on the roundtrip to Sarah Lawrence for my first college interview. Despite making the interviewer laugh and feel at ease with my confidence, I was placed on the waiting list.  However, I was content with the outcome because I was then accepted to The New School, a liberal arts college in Manhattan’s West Village where I studied creative non-fiction writing and journalism. During those four years, I befriended Pulitzer Prize–winning reporters, did investigative reporting on Coney Island’s controversial renovations, and attended burlesque shows to discover why this long forgotten art form suddenly resurrected in pop culture. I recited poetry in local coffee shops, discovered the Latin Quarter of France, and was scolded for  giving a thumbs-up to bloodshed in a horror-film review. I was rediscovering New York City from the eyes of a budding writer, perfecting my craft at a private university in a neighborhood where those before me made their mark with words. However, this was only the beginning.

In a few weeks I’ll be 23 years old, and despite a suffering economy and loans waiting to be paid back, I successfully managed to become an editor for an online Latin entertainment site less than a year after graduation. Previously, I was a staff writer for a Latin lifestyle magazine and before then, I held five editorial internships and freelanced for publications both here in the city and in London.  There’s no doubt that my willingness to become a writer has pushed me to become what I am today, but I couldn’t have accomplished my dreams without Sarah’s help. For several months, she spent many nights helping me edit my college essay and gave me advice about perfecting my applications. Even when I worried about not finding work after graduation, Sarah was still there, giving critiques about my resume, sending tips via email for interviews, and giving recommendations to potential employers. Most importantly, she continues to keep me believing in my dreams.

Many may say that my journey as a writer has come full circle, but a writer’s job is never complete, especially when you have a mentor who’s not only a literary confidant, but also a friend. I hope that someday I can make an impact on another girl who’s afraid of making that leap to a fulfilling life, but for now, I can enjoy writing, whether at work while earning money, or in the comfort of my own home. However, the luxury of being able to do something that you love for a living couldn’t exist without hard work, determination, as well as help from a mentor who’s ready to share every step along the way with you. I am grateful for Sarah and everyone from the Girls Write Now organization for being part of my writing life, while successfully creating a women-writing empire so that other budding authors, journalists, poets, playwrights, and many others can pursue their dreams. I didn’t make it to Sarah Lawrence College as I'd initially hoped, but I have no regrets in continuing to make my writings come to life with Sarah along for the ride.