by Shayna

by Shayna - June 2026 Scholarship Essay

Twice a month, a group of literature-loving students meet in the ninth-grade ELA teacher’s room. The idea for a book club sparked between two best friends two years ago, as they wished their strong opinions about painfully misguided characters from books could be shared with a larger group. As fun as it was to agree to disagree, they eventually formed the school’s Literature Club in an attempt to ignite that same passion in others.

As the co-founder of the club, I wanted to make members excited about literature—emphasizing that it’s not just about words on paper, but the art of storytelling. Fantastical worlds created solely through imagination provided a way for me to escape the present, if only for a moment. Feelings I couldn’t put into words were made almost tangible through poetry, adding another layer when normal language fell flat, like impasto on a painting. **Because the impact literature had on my life, I wanted to create a community where other students could experience that same connection.**

We brought in students across reading levels and grades. We hosted a book drive, a pen pal exchange, field trips, and fundraisers, but the Book of the Month was the central activity, where we would explore themes, character motives, and see ourselves in characters we related to. Except, members weren’t interested in reading. No matter the genre or length, they hadn’t read enough at home to engage in any substantial discussion during meetings. If even our own members felt discouraged about reading, how must the other students at my school feel about it?

If I could design a project at my school, I would create a reading marathon. Students can sign out books, one at a time, from the shelf of donated books we collected. Every time they return a book, they receive a token. They may use the tokens for a pinball machine filled with various trinkets and prizes. A possible addition is that whoever saves the most tokens by the end of the school year can win a larger, more valuable prize.

Implementing this project could encourage all students at my school to read. Students often overlook the place reading can have in their free time, and if motivated to pick up a book and discover one that is truly special to them, literature can hopefully become as meaningful to them as it is to me. Especially now, when people are becoming more concerned about the quality of their children’s education and falling literacy rates, programs and projects like these give hope for improvement.

“Poetry” comes from the Greek word “poiein,” meaning “to create.” Like art, we can create and appreciate stories—in books, plays, TV shows, and more—that stem from our own minds and experiences. It is a bridge formed between us that allows us to relate to and understand one another, become more socially responsible, and push ourselves toward our potential as critical thinkers and members of society. If even one student discovers a story that makes them feel understood or inspired, then the project will have succeeded in fostering a lasting appreciation for literature.