Writing My Story with the Students of STAGE WRITE
“I am the little girl who grew up in a house full of love and harmony.
With birds chirping and stars and hearts floating over my head like a filter on Instagram, but that house was planted in the middle of a neighborhood that at times could be riddled with bullets and there was constant mayhem.
I am the teenager who lost one cousin to a drunk driver and another to a jealous ex of an ex, who decided to X him out without even knowing what he was about.
I am the Richmond Public School graduate who knew she had to go to college because it would provide her a bright future, however, she was conflicted because some of her friends got to do whatever they wanted to.
I am the young adult who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University who landed a job with an amazing financial institution. However, I lived two blocks south of Addison and Main, the place where my uncle was slain.”
And with that spoken word, I introduced myself to students at Thomas Jefferson High School on my first day of volunteering – five years ago – with STAGE WRITE, Cadence Theatre Company’s student leadership and workforce readiness program. Little did I know then how my own personal cadence would change as a result of my engagement with the students and teachers of STAGE WRITE.
I stumbled across STAGE WRITE thumbing through Capital One’s list of volunteer opportunities. It was being offered to students at Thomas Jefferson, and since TJ is my alma mater, I decided to sign up. My first day there, Laine Satterfield, Cadence Theatre’s Direction of Education, and Heather Falks, Teaching Artist, shared what the program was about and what we would be doing, then immediately started warm-up exercises. In the beginning of the class, we heard things like, “Don’t call on me first” and “This feels weird.” The students were gradually sliding down in their seats, putting papers in front of their faces to avoid direct eye contact. By the end of that class, however, they were getting the hang of things, and the facilitators were beginning to gain their trust. It was so interesting, I had to go back to see more.
A month or so passed before I went back to Thomas Jefferson. When I entered the room, the energy was different. The students were ALIVE! We ran through the warm-up exercises with laughter and the students’ personal spin on things. They volunteered to read their pieces. “I’ll go first!” I couldn’t believe it; I needed to see if this was a pattern.
I tried Huguenot High School next. In that session, the students were asked to describe who they are, much like the introduction I offered during my first session. In the beginning, the pens were not moving much; they didn’t know what to write. Laine and Heather started to demonstrate what the descriptions could look like and how to make it fun. With the coaching from STAGE WRITE, I started to hear some very creative descriptions. They described themselves as the dwellings they lived in, like the food they ate, and the smells that surrounded them. They were happy to share, and I started to see smiles on their faces. I saw the relationships and trust building. I thought to myself, I wish that I had had this opportunity in high school. I wanted to see a program at one more school, to see if I would see the same results.
Next, I visited Armstrong High School, not once but a few times in a row, and what had happened at the other schools repeated itself with this group. On one particular day, the students were preparing to speak on camera for the first time. Reluctant doesn’t begin to describe their reaction. I could not believe how Laine, Katrinah and Matt were able to help the students feel comfortable enough to speak on camera. So much so, that it started to seem natural for them. They relaxed, laughed, and let their personalities shine. At the end of that session I was invited to the STAGE WRITE closing ceremony; I was honored to attend.
The students I worked with and observed all school year were at the ceremony. Seeing them speak articulately and confidently brought me to tears. They spoke in front of their family members, peers, administrators and strangers. The camera footage of their public service announcements put the icing on the cake. I was impressed. I was amazed. I was proud. I decided that all of my volunteer hours, with the exception of my church activities, would be dedicated to STAGE WRITE. I was completely sold.
Like the students we serve, my introduction is different from when I first started. I now proudly add, “I am a woman who was introduced to STAGE WRITE through Capital One. I have contributed to this group. I have learned from this group, and now I am a Cadence Theatre board member.”
Cassandra Freeman
Capital One and Cadence Theatre Company board member
