Scholar-Journalist of the Week: A new place

A class 5 student of Apeejay School, Model Town in Jalandhar, Ashita Kashyap, grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories such as ‘The Thirsty Crow’. But there was something unique about this exercise. She, not just heard them, but tried to imagine different endings to these narratives. And that’s what led her to become more creative and imaginative. Later on, she started to write her own stories, some of which have been published at Apeejay Newsroom. Read On, as Ashita tells more about her writing journey. Edited excerpts from the interview:

Please tell us about your interests.

I like to act and write stories. In school, I have been participating in several plays and theatre-based activities. My favourite subjects are Science and English. Especially, in the language, getting to know more about the spellings, grammar and words is thrilling for me.  

How and when did you begin to write – A new place?

I have a creative mind. Often, I sit and imagine different things and build upon them to create a narrative. My mother too keeps introducing me to new books and stories. Those really cultivate my thoughts.

The last book you read?

‘The Happy Prince and Other Tales Annotated’ by Oscar Wilde. Often, I issue books from the school’s library and read them. I like to explore different genres, and those based on mystery and tragedy are interesting.

Your first story?

I wrote ‘Mishap – A Short Play’ which was published at Apeejay Newsroom. After that, I felt extremely motivated to write more. The Apeejay team also conducted a Zoom meeting last year to educate us about opportunities on how to pitch our work on the website. I was happy that such a platform was put in place. When my first work got published, my friends, family and relatives congratulated me. They have been very proud of me.  

For those who want to start at writing, your tips?

If someone criticises your work, don’t feel discouraged. Also, try to pen down your thoughts in a language you feel most comfortable in.