Patricia Lea Olson Creative Writing Scholarship

When I was around nine years old, I wrote a story where all the characters were literal vegetables. They went on many adventures together and became best friends. That story ended when I wrote of them planting a garden...thankfully, my passion and love for writing didn't end there. Writing has always been a way for me to express my imaginations and dreams. As a naturally quiet and shy girl, it's never been easy for me to explain my thoughts to other people. Because of that, I struggled with a lot of negative thoughts that pulled my self-esteem and confidence down. I even stopped writing for a while. Slowly, with the help and support of family and friends, I started to grow and change my thoughts. My outlook on life also changed. The experience that I went through reflects in what I write. When I write, I write for teenage girls who are going through what I went through. My ultimate goal is to help those girls grow too. I want them to know that they are not alone, and that there is still hope and goodness in the world. The characters I write aren't perfect, but so are the people in this world. Yet, the characters exhibit strength, grace, and love. That's what I want readers to see in themselves. I want readers to be inspired by the characters I write, and I want them to realize that they have so much potential and worth. Studying creative writing is something that I take seriously because writing has helped me to become a better person. I believe that words have power to tear someone down or build them up, and there are far too many negative words in today's society. I know that studying creative writing will help me gain more knowledge and build more skills to better elevate my writing. I can't wait to learn from professors and teachers who have years of experience under their belt. I know that they will help mold and shape my writing to be the best it can be. Lastly, I have many dreams and goals when it comes to my writing. The biggest one is to publish a book (or books!). I've had this dream since I was a little girl, and it's never faded. Books hold a special place in my heart, and I'm an avid reader. It would be an absolute dream to see a book written in my own words on a shelf at the bookstore or library! I hope that, even if I don't ever get to publish a book, my words will affect people for good and uplift them. It's like C.S. Lewis once said, "We read to know we are not alone."