Madalyn Blohm came to MIPA camp to improve her skills as a writer and to hopefully have her own column in her publication, The Update. She didn’t know what to expect during her time in “The Art of Storytelling’. She was used to objective journalism, devoid of a personal touch. But after a few days of writing normal features and photo stories, Blohm was tasked with creating something different. A personal narrative that would change her outlook on life.
“Something I’ve always struggled with is not liking my own writing,” Blohm said. “But in this class, I look forward to writing. I feel like I’m making my stories better.”
In her personal narrative, Blohm writes about the moment that her sister came home from studying abroad for a year. She wrote about what it was like to see her best friend again after so much time, and battle with wanting to create the perfect moment- and with being in the moment.
“My sister, Lillian, had been thousands of miles away from me for almost a whole year. She had missed my entire sophomore year, and I had missed her entire senior year,” Blohm wrote. “We both missed each other’s birthdays, halloween, christmas, every holiday that holds importance to us. I felt like I lost it all, like I lost her.”
Blohm wrote about how she’d never been much of an anxious person before, but the anticipation of seeing her sister again altered her.
“So here I was with my stupid little digital camera trying to hold it straight,” Blohm said. “So that when she came through the gate, I could film it. I could show it to the important moments of her life. But I was so worried about that, that I didn’t really get to see her. Get to say hi.”
Eventually, Blohm was able to calm her nerves, and realize her sister was finally home. The entire experience became not only a happy memory, but also a life lesson she’d carry with her forever. So in her personal narrative, she shared what she’d learned.
“Anxiety doesn’t have to control you. So don’t let it,” Blohm wrote.
Blohm said that without the push from her ‘Art of Storytelling’ class, she wouldn’t have been able to push herself and reflect on her experiences, to create something out of it she’d hoped would help anyone who read it. Out of everything she’d created at MIPA camp, this was her favorite and most transformative piece of work. She hopes that others who have the chance to take the class will, and will be rewarded with the same experience she had.
“I think that the important thing I learned from all of this is that you should take an accept things,” Blohm said. “With anxiety, you’re always focusing on the future. On the what-ifs. You need to be focusing on the present.”