Senior Camille Lawrence has turned her passion into a CAS project for IB.
“I have wanted to write since I was seven years old,” said Lawrence.
CAS stands for creativity, activity, and service.
Lawrence’s project is a student writing workshop designed to create more writing opportunities within the NDA community.
Originally, Lawrence planned to complete a solo writing project.
However, to meet the service criteria, she made it a student workshop.
“When the first idea didn’t work, I thought of a way I could still write but involve other people,” she explained.
The workshop, held in the mornings in the library, offered students a space to write creatively and collaboratively.
Yet the experience did not unfold exactly as she envisioned.
Attendance is often low, and on some days, Lawrence found herself working alone.
“There are times where I am by myself, and that can be a little hard to stomach when you put effort into something,” she admitted
Despite the challenges, Lawrence does not define the project as a failure.
Instead, she views it through a broader lens of growth and experience.
“Overall, it hasn’t been my vision. However, the relaxing time in the morning is really nice, and I’m not unhappy at all that I got the chance to do it,” she said.
Planning for the workshop came together quickly.
After realizing she needed a cooperative component, Lawrence approached Mrs. Browne to request use of the library and later cleared it with Mr. Shultz.
Within days, the project was in motion.
“Other than picking a time, not a lot of planning went into this,” she said.
Still, the experience reinforced an important lesson.
“You can’t control how other people react to your project, but you can control the effort put in,” Lawrence reflected.
Though the turnout may not have matched expectations, the workshop reflects something deeper.
Lawrence’s dedication to storytelling and willingness to take initiative reflect her commitment to writing.
“I find nothing more engaging than trying to construct a whole world, even if it’s just in my mind,” she said.
Looking ahead, Lawrence remains open to continuing the project in some form if there is interest.
Regardless of what happens, she considers the experience worthwhile.
However, she highly encourages anyone who needs essay proofreading, is working on a story, or is curious about the workshop to attend.
