During our 2015 summer residential programme, at the Arvon centre in Shropshire, we interviewed First Story students about their experience of participating in the programme. They talked about the best aspects of attending the residential, the benefits of being brave and giving it a go, and the positive impact on their on creativity, confidence and writing ability.
The full recording, shared here, is well worth a listen. We’ve also pulled some of our favourite comments from the students, below.
First Story, literally saved my life. It’s given me an outlet to deal with a lot of things that had been rolling around in my head for a very long time, that I’ve not really had a way to express before. First Story has meant the ability to deal with a lot of that stuff. It means a lot to me.
When I started I was so shy. I didn’t have any confidence whatsoever. I can really see how I’ve progressed and how First Story alone has helped me so much.
It allows you to see things from a different view because there are different people with diverse opinions.
Performing pieces has been so much fun because I’ve gained so much confidence. I’ve kind of grown as a person.
“Writers, they’re the same people as us. The only thing that separates them from us is the time and experience they have, and obviously the things that they’ve accomplished. First Story allows you to bridge that gap between getting to success”
‘It’s a safe environment and everyone here, staff and writers, encouraged me to produce the best pieces I’ve written so far ‘
A student from Skinners’ Academy, Sabah Hussein, also wrote a poem about her Residential experience. Read her excellent work here.
Patrick Ness and Sally Green to headline Young Writers’ Festival 2015