Writing the Hurt Away

At first, I wanted to write about Writing and Secondary Schools. However, I changed my mind when reading an Internet article about a young girl, age 7. She was gang rape. This trigger several memories about certain girl students that were rape. I remembered this one particular student, when she asked me what to do. My heart was so grieved as I held back the tears while I listened to her ordeal. Her pain was spoken and felt through her words. She shared with me that she was going to counseling.

I had just read the book, When I Whispers, Nobody Listens by Helen Frost. I suggested to her that she should try journaling. She said that she would try it. I knew that this particular trauma would take time for healing. But, this particular young girl begin to journal. At the end of the year, she presented me with her journal and asked me to keep it. When she left school a couple of years later, she asked for her journal back. She stated that she wanted to write a book to help other girls get through what she had gone through in her life. I often wonder what has happen to her and I hope that everything is well with her.

In reading the Frost book, she stated, "We, as teachers of writing, don't have to help our students shout out their truths; we can help them write with precision and grace, and such writing will amplify their whispers or subdue their screams, allowing them to tell whatever kind of truth they need to tell." p. xiii.

I believe that writing can bring forth healing of the mind and heart. As I think about writing and healing. I have experience students reaching out for help through their writing where authorities had to be contacted. By reading their writing, I was able to intervene and get help for them.

In Writing as a Way of Healing by Louise DeSalvo she has several quotes that I like:

• "Writing has helped me heal. Writing has changed my life. Writing has saved my life. "p. 3

• She states that writing is a fixer. "I use my writing as a way of fixing things, of making them better, of healing myself. As a compasslike way of taking a "fix" on my life-to see where I am, where I've been, and where I'm going." p. 7

• ". . . the act of writing about something painful can help right a wrong that thas been done to you." p. 10.

• "If we leave ourselves open, if we follow the voice of our genius that tells us what to write about, we will find that we inevitably continue to receive "gifts"- moments of inspiration that guide us, a sense of joy and abundance and plenty-and we will feel gifted." p. 92

My favorite quote from her:

• "Writing. A gift that comes to us. A gift we give ourselves. A gift we give to others."

I utilized this quote to start a conversation with my students about writing. It is very effective. I am always in awe listening to students' responses.

Also, in Handbook Research on Writing there is a paper on "Writing as Physical and Emotional Healing: Findings from Clinical Research, p. 485. The author states that, " . . . the more individuals can reflect on and structure difficult memories and emotions, the more likely they are to recover". p. 497.

My questions:

Can writing really heal the heart and the mind?

What are the challenges of helping students write for healing?

Are there any legal complications when allowing students to write freely?