ONE PEN x THE RAVEN
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE BRONX ACADEMY OF LETTERS
10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2024
A Reflection by BAE Creative Literacy Teaching Artist, Amanda Santiago:
Reflection Sparks, Finally...
A few weeks have gone by since the last day of classes for New York City’s public schools. Summer has fallen, and students no longer fill the crowded train carts on the way to work in the morning. There is a calm in the air, but the temperature is at an all time high. My final days as a teaching artist have come and gone, and I’ve been given the privilege during this time to truly dig inside myself and reflect on how this experience has changed me. The feeling is bittersweet to say the least. Though, I have always felt somber about the summer anyway. To me, summer has always felt like an ending; a Goodbye.
As the summer days proceed, I begin to create the space for new work; What is there to plan for next year? How can I improve as a facilitator? How can I become a better mentor? What is it that children and teenagers need from someone like me? The questions and concerns I have regarding the following school year begin to flood me, until I realize that I haven’t fully absorbed the previous one. It dawns on me with deep sentimentality: It has truly been emotional, transformative and educational year.
What Did I/We Learn?
In 2023-2024's school year, the theme for our Creative Literacy class was to “Be comfortable in your vulnerability.” While it isn’t the easiest process to crack open the shell of a teenaged high schooler, I realized this was a two-way street. Having the chance to share openly and creatively about myself as an artist, educator and human being to my students, only showed them what transparency and authenticity looks like on a person. Instead of shying away from all the factors that make up me, I openly encouraged my students to be driven by their curiosities:
“Who are you?”
“How long have you been teaching?”
“Are you in love?”
“Are you an artist?”
“What do you do on the weekends?”
“What are you afraid of?”
“Did you like school?”
“Do you have both of your parents?”
“Have you ever experienced losing someone?”
“How do you keep yourself from getting distracted?”
“What do you do when you’re depressed?”
“How do you become a better person?”
“How can I be a better person?”
One thing that isn’t mentioned about being a Teaching Artist, is the nonstop juggling of challenging orthodox teacher ideologies and simply being a creative collaborator in the classroom. Showing up as myself was, indeed, a radical act. Giving students the space to ask, question, admire, and challenge me is how we were able to simultaneously grow individually and together throughout the school year. Through this exchange of honesty and vulnerability, many of my students shared quite a handful about themselves; verbally, vocally and spiritually. This was the beginning of a very special dynamic.
There is nothing more valuable than that; for the bond between teacher and student to grow through trust, education and creativity. Through this atmospheric relationship, incredible work was executed through each student’s experiences. Students have gone on to write poems, short stories, haikus, and articles about their perspectives in their worlds, to which we were able to publish a magazine and develop a photo gallery in our own school. Proceeding the school year, many young artists even decided to hold onto their journals and take it home with them to keep. I take that this is a sign of feeling confident with themselves, their talents and abilities, and to never, ever, stop sharing their story.
On our very last day of classes, my senior-students walked towards me with their yearbooks in hand. While I know it may be just as emotional for them as it is for me; to say goodbye to the year and to say hello to the unknown can be an overwhelming experience for us all. Change is not easy! Nonetheless, I write with my sparkly black pen customized messages on their yearbook and journal pages. Different words, yet all with the same meaning, I write: “You CAN do ANYTHING. I believe in you! Now, you must believe in yourself too.”
What’s Next for Us?
As a young arts educator, I am aware that this is a mountain we are climbing collectively. The work may never be finished, and it may not get easier either, but to be a Teaching Artist means to be dedicated and passionate about this next cycle of young artists. It is important that I help them access their own toolboxes of ideas for the sake of incorporating creativity into their daily lives.
Art is healing, and their truths will set them free.
In addition, I noticed one essential thing through our shared time together: This next generation of artists are fearless. They are young warriors who have hearts filled with protest, transformation and purpose. In a world where war, crime, and hatred exists – We need them. Humanity needs them.
And so, a feeling begins to shadow over me.
It is similar to sunlight.
Similar to the Summer,
After long, transformative, Winter days.
This isn’t a goodbye, nor is it an ending...
This is a New Beginning.
A Revolution.
Starting with
A voice.
