What to do!
By Chelsea Chinedo
My piece is about fitting in during high school. It was inspired by my observation of some people changing over time to be something they are not. Teenagers today are constantly risking everything and changing who they are just to fit in with a group they see as superior to the rest. This represents my best work in the program this year because I made a crucial topic humorous and entertaining. Yes, I made it funny, but it is still very much something that happens a lot and can sometimes lead teenagers into a lot of trouble.
Process
Since I’m a high school student, I constantly see people trying to change who they are to fit in. While creating this piece, I used the app Anchor and learned how to meet a time crunch. My podcast went from 4 minutes and 29 seconds to 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Meeting the 2 minute time limit was definitely a challenge. When I completed my podcast, I felt satisfied and excited that I pulled it off.
Meet the Pair
MENTEE CHELSEA CHINEDO & MENTOR OLIVIA JANE SMITH
Chelsea’s Anecdote: My mentor Olivia and I connect on a variety of different levels. We share a lot of the same views and are very interested in each other’s lives. She understands me on a level that not everyone can. Her laugh makes me laugh and she always encourages me to try my best. She never fails to remind me how proud she is of me and how proud I should be of myself. She’s positive and we have such an optimistic relationship. She isn’t too pushy and isn’t too quiet, she’s just right. I appreciate our bonding over our love of food, especially that chocolate-chip cookie we get at Culture Espresso every week. She fills my writing where I’m lacking and I’ve learned a lot from her in the time we’ve spent together. I can say I’m a better writer than I was yesterday because of her.
Olivia Jane’s Anecdote: Chelsea and I have come together from different generations and geographies: from her family’s roots in Nigeria and mine in western New York State; her current home in the Bronx and mine in Brooklyn; and her as a high school sophomore and me a mid-career professional. Thanks to Girls Write Now, we share so much more than the chocolate-chip cookies that are a staple of our weekly pair meetings at Culture Espresso. We talk about friendships, fitting in, the writing we aspire to do, and the writing we are doing together. I feel so lucky to have her as a collaborator and friend.
Chelsea Chinedo
Chelsea Chinedo is currently a junior in high school and she loves to explore different writing genres and get out of her comfort zone once in a while. She is a driven student that is always willing to learn and improve in any way she can. She enjoys dressing up, doing makeup looks, having fun with family and friends and watching Netflix!
