The Viking room at H-F was transformed into a writing workshop on Nov. 4 as H-F’s EDDA sponsor Sahar Mustafah hosted the annual SWSC literacy Magazine conference. Students from across the districts gathered to showcase their poetry, creative works and learn from the Chicago-based poet Faisal Mohyuddin. 

Mohyuddin is an artist, writer and English teacher who was born here in Chicago before he moved to Pakistan where he was raised. In Mohyuddin’s work he uses his personal experiences to voice what was once silenced.  

“[Writing] allows me to feel true to myself that I don’t always have a chance to have a conversation with people about things that are difficult or frustrating and because I can’t always have those convos I can turn to writing,” Mohyuddin shared. 

Mohyuddin led the workshop detailing his experiences growing into his creative side, showcasing his poetry and guiding the students in an activity to be able to demonstrate their own artistic nature through the use of sounds and visual drawing to create poetry. “Creative expression is about getting your thoughts out,” Mohyuddin expressed. “It is impossible to make a mistake.” 

Mohyuddin demonstrated to the writers the beauty of spontaneity. “You don’t always need to know what you’re going to say before you start writing and it’s good sometimes to write something that unexpected,” he said.

The literacy workshop was meant to inspire students to create and be surrounded with others from their community. “The goal of this event is to exchange ideas about literature magazine production and also experience fun and engaging writing art,” Mustafah explained. 

The attendees were encouraged by Mohyuddin to see “ another way people can take art and infuse it into every part of their lives,” Senior Lucia Magan said.  

EDDA club member Julianne Posey remarked, “I like meeting with other people who are passionate about writing as I am and getting to spend the day thinking about how I can contribute to my own club.” 

The event concluded with an open-mic where three students read the artistic pieces they completed during the workshop. 

This workshop left a lasting impression on the writers spreading inspiration.  “I learned you don’t have to explain your art, poetry is a language for everyone else but also for yourself,” Majan commented. 

The event echoed the importance of engaging our high school authors with professional artists from our community. “It gives the powerful impression that they too can make a journey and creative career,” Mustafah said. “It brings real-world experience to our school.” 

As the event came to an end Mohyuddin left final words of encouragement for the writers. “The number one thing is to just write, read things to become a better writer and have at least one person in your life who encourages you to keep writing no matter how good or bad you think your writing is, it’s about getting better.”