Example 1, by Henry Parkhurst
On the long drive to school in Bakersfield, California, Elly Honaker found inspiration in listening
to lounge music from the ’60s.
One day on the drive, spinning through random music, she came across the Julie London song,
“Cry Me a River.”
“The voice in the song has this slow fade out which made me think about how her music was
just forgotten by the world.”
Forgotten by some, but not by Honaker. London is now her favorite artist and one of her
biggest inspirations.
London was a shy person who found herself in the limelight and then struggled with processing
the implications of fame, Honaker said. “But she lived in this world in between women being
seen as sex symbols and being housewives, and I think that’s really empowering to young
women.”
Honaker now shares London’s music with any friend who could use a pick-me-up from London’s
empowering voice and beats. She collects the music and loves talking about its “forgotteness.”
Honaker describes herself as a shy person, like London, looking to find an expressive outlet.
“I want to show who I am” Honaker said. “Her voice is unreal, if I had a voice like that I’d never
shut up.”
In collecting, sharing, and discussing London’s music, Honaker found that outlet.
Example 2, by Nicole Mackey
The Red Winged Black Bird may just be a bird to most people but to one man it reminds him of the time spent with a teacher who helped him discover his passion.
Justin Catanoso has fond memories of his fifth-grade teacher, Katherine McPherson, and the way she instilled in her students a love for the things she loved. McPherson is no longer alive, but she left a lasting influence on those she taught.
“She had such enthusiasm for writing and nature,” said Catanoso. “Each month she would give us writing assignments and take us on field trips to study birds.”
McPherson encouraged Catanoso to enter a statewide essay contest held by The Daughters of the American Revolution. Catanoso ended up winning first place for the 500-word essay he wrote about The Constitution.
It was at the age of 10, Catanoso discovered he wanted to become a writer. He is now a journalism professor at Wake Forest University.
Before McPherson died, Catanoso got the chance to tell her how he still carries with him the lessons she taught him not only when teaching his own students but in raising his kids.
“She always used to tell me I was one of her best students,” Catanoso said with a smile. “She may have said it to 20 other kids to, but I definitely remember her telling me that.”