Kelsey Logan

This week’s Student Feature Friday is sophomore Kelsey Logan whose maturity and varied writing experiences far surpass her age. Kelsey is clear that she wants art to be a part of her life now and in the future and is currently focused on exploring various forms of writing. After being introduced to poetry in 6th grade, she realized the complexity and ability to dissect the poetry was something that she loved and she continues to develop her own style by taking classes at HHS and online through other organizations.

In April, Kelsey will be competing with her team in the Louder Than A Bomb poetry competition. After taking a slam poetry class she auditioned for the competition by reading two of her pieces and was chosen to compete on a team with 3 other individuals from the Boston area. Kelsey gravitates towards free verse poetry because it provides the most mobility in her writing.

Kelsey is impressive in her ability to intentionally step outside her comfort zone and participate in other experiences that push her to develop her skills, challenge her thinking and grow as a person. Her goal as next year’s co-editor in chief of Enigma Literary Magazine is to highlight all different art forms, thus allowing her to highlight the work of so many different students. There is no doubt that the literary magazine is in good hands.

Q: As the soon-to-be co-editor and chief of Enigma Literary Magazine, what leadership responsibilities will you take on and why is this something you are interested in doing?

A: As a co-editor in chief, it will be my responsibility to understand, teach, and be involved in the process of developing the Literary Magazine. I will teach newcomers how we operate as a club, how we create the school’s magazine, and how to apply the skills built by the club to our daily lives. I hope to inspire and push the editors to publish a diverse collection of student work that demonstrates the voices of our peers.

I was welcomed into Enigma last year by the amazing co-editors in chief, editors, and club advisor, Mr. Murphy. I was inspired by all the club members and the kindness and laughter that we shared at each meeting. I was intrigued by the concept that by publishing the magazine, we were illustrating the innovation and creativity of our peers. I hope that as a co-editor in chief, I inspire other members of Enigma, as well as readers of the magazine, to find and express their voices.

Q: During our conversation, you described writing as your passion. What is it about writing that resonates with you?

A: I think that art allows us to connect to and understand each other. It enables us to share our stories and shed light on the aspects of society that we wish to change. I believe that writing is a form of art, and as an artist, writing allows me to share my experiences and develop my perspective of the world.

Q: You talked about this year (sophomore year) as an experimental year, trying winter track, taking an online writing class and taking a class at Mass Art. What have you learned about yourself through this process?

A: One of the hardest decisions that I’ve made was taking a break from dance. I’ve grown up with dance as a major part of my life and developed a bond from this art between my teammates. As my sister and I were on the same team, and held dance as something we shared, I was hesitant to leave the team and lose this connection. The commitment of being on a competitive dance team absorbed my time tremendously and I realized that if I continued to solely focus on this one aspect of my life, I wouldn’t be able to further develop other passions.

This year, I decided to leave my dance team and invest in my passion for art and writing. I took an online writing class that connected me with teens from around the world, receiving feedback from an instructor living in Paris at the time. The online class, as well as the writing electives I took at HHS this year, strengthened my skills and craft and gave me the confidence to audition for GrubStreet’s slam poetry team that represents the Boston area. On top of this, I was able to send my work to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and the outcome was being recognized as a gold key medalist. If I hadn’t had taken this year to pursue in this passion and dedicate myself to the craft, my writing abilities wouldn’t be where they are now.

The class that I took at Mass Art introduced me to various mediums of art. This class brought a group of people together that encouraged self-expression through the process of art – reminding me that life is a process, and that taking time to try new things is so important to discovering who you are and who you can become.

At winter track, I was surrounded by positive encouragement to push myself both physically and mentally. It was inspiring to see my teammates engaged in their event/s and be so supportive of each other.

By participating in these different activities, I realized that I am empowered by being around people that share a passion for a certain pursuit – whether that be a sport, art, or writing – as the energy of a shared love unites those involved.

This year has brought me to the realization that my future does not have to be as rigid as I envisioned it. But that I can branch out into other realms of activities and still appreciate and respect the path I came from. Looking back, if I had not taken this risk, there are so many connections to inspiring students from Holliston, and other towns, states, and even countries, that I would not have been able to make. I am so thankful that this experience allowed me to navigate my way by pursuing in my passions.

Q: When asked what advice you had for others just starting out as writers, you mentioned that it is important to find your voice. How did you go about finding your voice and how is that displayed throughout your writing and other forms of art?

A: Anyone that is just starting out as a writer should understand the importance of their perspective on society. Writing, as well as other forms of art, allow an individual to convey how he or she feels about a certain aspect of the community. Writing is a process that allows one to observe the world around them and illustrate and portray its beauties and flaws. I think that ‘voice’ is a process about taking a step back from society to understand your reaction to the constant change we are faced with. All of my life experiences come together to form the perspective that my work is produced from.

Slam poetry offers a platform for me to express my views of society and how I think we should change. The Louder Than A Bomb competition that my slam team will participate in is a place for our community to hear the voices of our youth.