Arts-Integrated Program Spotlight: College Essay; HELP!
- Arts for Learning
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
The Workshop Making College Essays Approachable
As another academic year begins and a new wave of high school students turn their attention to the tall task of applying for college, Arts for Learning is proud to highlight an incredible arts-integration workshop that supports students in their pursuit of higher education!
Program Description
College Essay; HELP! is a single-session workshop presented by Teaching Artist Robin Lee Jordan. A perfect fit for high school juniors and seniors as they look ahead to the--often daunting--task of applying to colleges, this program is geared specifically toward addressing the hurdle of writing a college essay.
By connecting artistic disciplines like creative writing and literary arts to the challenging (and sometimes dry) task of preparing a college essay, this program provides students with the tools to get started and shows them how they can incorporate creativity and fun into their writing!
Robin guides students through a variety of brainstorming adventures to help them pick a topic that surprises the admission committees and, more importantly, inspires the student. Students receive individualized guidance and feedback on their outlining and drafting. With a topic that resonates with them and the tools to move their writing forward, students often leave the workshop feeling confident, writing and communicating with authenticity, and sometimes even ENJOY writing their essay!
A good fit for both in-school classroom settings and out-of-school contexts, this program is adaptable and responsive to the needs of students from all backgrounds.
High-Anxiety: studentPOLL Findings
The college admissions process can be one of the most anxiety-inducing and daunting endeavors for young students intending to pursue collegiate studies following high school.
A recent study by the Art & Science Group, studentPOLL found that, from a sample of 604 high school seniors with plans to pursue a 4-year degree, 89% of students report moderate or high levels of anxiety surrounding the college search and admissions process as a whole. When asked which elements contribute to this anxiety, 53% of respondents cited meeting application deadlines and 45% cited writing college essay.
Further, the study found that students from lower income households, rural areas, and first-generation backgrounds reported higher levels of stress and anxiety surrounding their college search.
Supporting Students' Next Steps
With a program designed to inspire confidence, ignite imagination, and provide students with the tools needed to write a college essay that goes above and beyond and a Teaching Artist with the experience and values to support student
Robin Lee Jordan
Teaching Artist Robin Lee Jordan is a teacher, poet, writer, multi interdisciplinary artist, event organizer, and zinemaker who values youth empowerment; creating accessible platforms for people to share their work & ideas; activating artists in service of their communities; artistic spontaneity; and creating encouraging spaces.
With two decades of experience, she has taught literature, writing, the arts, pedagogy, and civic engagement to teachers, undergraduates, and students in 3rd through 12th grade at schools/universities, community centers, afterschool programs, youth residential treatment sites, and libraries. For 10 years, she ran a free, creative writing program for teens in Buffalo, NY.
Along with her teaching artist work at Arts for Learning and WNY Book Arts Center, she is currently a co-organizer of an annual ZineFest, runs civic arts themed programs for youth adults at The Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Arts and Burning Books, and runs a zinemaking workshop series for aging artists at Delavan Grider Community Center.
Book Today!
Interested in bring this incredible workshop to a class or community organization near you? Reach out today to add College Essay; HELP to your schedule!
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