We all have a story to tell: Stonewall Jackson students first in area to join Origin Project

Everyone has a story to tell – the story of who they are and where they come from. The “Origin Project” historically tells student stories of the Appalachian Region of Southwestern Virginia. For the first time ever, this project has expanded outside of Appalachia, to include a group of students at Stonewall Jackson High School (SJHS).

In November of this year, the SJHS students met with Origin Project founders Adriana Trigiani and Nancy Bolmeier Fisher, kicking off this year-long project with a visit to the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. This motivated group of approximately 30 student writers are working on their submissions for the Origin Project—which culminates in the publication of a book in May—while tying this experience in with the Virginia SOLs.

Recently Fisher and Linda Woodward, also from The Origin Project, led a creative writing workshop to see how the students were doing with their stories. They spent time reviewing, giving guidance and ideas on how to polish pieces that are almost ready for submission to publish.

Some of the students read their pieces out loud for everyone to hear, while others soaked up the one-on-one time to get the tweaks needed to finish what they are working on. When asked what he felt the value of this project was, senior Antonio Crete said, “It’s a different type of connection you make with someone else.” He explained that he has learned more about his classmates and friends, and has seen a new side to many of them, that he might not have seen without this project.

This year’s Origin Project will conclude in May, with the publication of Book Four that will include submissions from 1300 students at 11 schools, including Stonewall Jackson High School.