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    • APR 16: WRITING YOURSELF INTO POEMS WITH DIANA WHITNEY AND LYNN MELNICK
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Home / Programs / Writing Works Program / PENNING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT SERIES WITH SUSANNA HORNG

PENNING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT SERIES WITH SUSANNA HORNG

 

During the first workshop of this three-part series, NYU Clinical Associate Professor Susanna Horng gave mentees tips and recommendations on how to take personal statements to the next level. Dividing into small seminar-style groups, mentees had the opportunity to get and give feedback on their drafts through Active Listening.

The second part of the series started with a refresher from Susanna followed by feedback sessions in small groups. For the third and final installment, mentees got to work one-to-one with a “Mentor for the Day” on their personal statement.

Attendee Testimonials & Survey Stats

Mentee Attendees

Mentees are those who joined the workshop to receive help with crafting their personal statements.

More than 97% of mentee respondents said

  • This workshop was enjoyable
  • This workshop was worth my time
  • I would recommend Girls Write Now workshops to a friend
  • I would attend another Girls Write Now Writing Works event

Mentees Before & After

  • Knowing the do’s & don’ts of crafting a strong personal narrative: 182% increase 
  • Having a personal statement draft: 146% increase
  • Feeling they had help writing their personal statements: 125% increase
  • Knowing how to workshop the personal statement: 200% increase
  • Knowing the steps they should take for revising their personal statement: 146% increase

Mentee Testimonials

  • Every part was truly amazing. I had a wonderful time with my mentor. We connected on such a spiritual level and had so much in common. I felt like we could be best friends.
  • Coming into the workshop, I was very nervous about receiving feedback, but my mentor was so supportive and encouraging with my personal statement draft. I felt comfortable with voicing any concerns and was even able to read my work to her.
  • My mentor was really helpful and I was able to learn about what makes a personal statement. Before this workshop, I had no idea what it was or what I was going to do, so this was very helpful!
  • My favorite part was sharing my essay and receiving feedback on it, because I am nervous to show my work and this helped me become more confident in my essay writing.
  • I had no idea what my personal statement would be about, just a cloud of my own passions and internal monologues. Now I have a topic I want to explore!

Mentor Attendees

Mentors acted as “Mentors for the Day”, providing feedback and guidance to mentees on crafting their personal statements.

100% of mentors also said

  • They would recommend Girls Write Now workshops to a friend or colleague
  • They would attend another Girls Write Now Writing Works event
  • They were adequately prepared
  • Their mentees met the goals of the workshop

Mentor Testimonials

  • Thank you for this opportunity for students. I would have loved this when I was applying for colleges.
  • It was nice getting to know my mentees! One was a graduate student applying for scholarships and another was a 2020 graduate looking for ways to guide her creativity and create a personal statement–it was really nice talking with them, and the hour was sufficient to give deep, personalized feedback on their writing and just talk about their challenges. 
  • The active listening session was empowering and really fun. I loved hearing the ideas that my mentees had and facilitating discussions around their feedback.
  • My favorite part was Active Listening! I loved being able to help mentees hone their voices in their personal statements. And it was a wonderful experience to help facilitate in a safe and supportive environment for mentees to share.

Donate Now

Presenting Girls Write Now Live: Unmuted Spring Performance Series!

Join Girls Write Now mentees and mentors and special guest honorees for a boundary-pushing performance series! This season, we’re proud to bring you eight shows—March 12, March 26, April 9, April 23, May 7, May 18, May 21 and June 11. Register now to join us in celebrating the power of shared stories!

Life Resources and Events

At Girls Write Now, we work to challenge and change the systemic racism and inequality by breaking down the barriers of race and poverty to elevate the voices of girls and gender nonconforming youth who are too often not heard—or worse, silenced. From mental and emotional wellness to advocating for racial justice, we are here to support you individually and as a community through our robust programming. Check out our calendar to see our current offerings or visit our Life Resources page to support you during this time.

Friday Night Salon with Diana Whitney and Lynn Melnick

Join us on Friday, April 16 from 6-7:30PM ET for Speaking the Unspeakable: Writing Yourself into Poems with Diana Whitney and Lynn Melnick!

Girls Write Now Stands in Solidarity with the AAPI Community

At Girls Write Now, we are alarmed and deeply disturbed by the recent incidents of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country. As ever, we are committed to challenging systemic racism and xenophobia, and standing in solidarity with our community as we process and heal through art and storytelling.

Become a Part of Our Community!

Girls Write Now is a dynamic, multi-generational community of writers on a mission. Complete our Inquiry Form to be notified when enrollment for the 2021-22 program year opens!

We’re Hiring!

Looking for more purpose-driven work in the new year? Check out available roles to join the team! 

GIVE. WRITE. NOW. And Thank you!!

Girls Write Now’s services are more essential than ever before—serving the hardest hit communities—and many of our young women and gender nonconforming youth have themselves become essential workers to help their families. They carry an enormous burden and face devastating loss, slipping further into poverty. To meet the need, we have enriched and extended our programs, leading the historical transition to virtual learning.

Get Involved!

Are you a licensed mental health professional who’d love to work with our community of writers and creatives? We’re seeking volunteer Wellness Advisors. Get more info & apply here!

Relive the Girls (Re)Write Now Awards

If you missed the awards, you can still watch it! Relive this revolutionary night of mini–master classes with honorees on empathy, art, activism & humor and Girls Write Now mentees on writing with purpose, climate justice & self-care. 

Writing from our Future Leaders

Taking Our Place in History: the Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology was published with support from Dutton and Amazon Literary Partnership, available for purchase from McNally Jackson Books and anywhere ebooks are sold!

Girls Write Now in the News

Girls Write Now’s work has recently been featured by the National Endowment for the Arts, Time Out New York, NYXT and more!

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