Goodbye Cardona, Hello Puentes!
Ms. Puentes reading one of her favorite books, Withering Heights.
Tests, college deadlines, and homework all take a toll on students. Fortunately, Miami High offers Creative Writing, a class where students can release themselves from the everyday rigors of more academic courses.
The Creative Writing class is different from other classes because it is not a traditional English class. In this class students explore culture, philosophy, religion, and literature. It is mainly project-based. Film and art are both used to enhance the course.
Senior Carol Tinoco affirmed, “We study the different aspects of myths and compare them to our daily lives. I look forward to creating my own pieces of work.”
As many may know, recently retired English teacher Ms. Cardona created the curriculum for what used to be called Contemporary Literature and is now called Creative Writing. She taught the course for over 25 years.
Former Creative Writing student Isabella Pujol, a senior who took the class last year, adds, “There was not one thing that I didn’t enjoy in her class. I was very interested in the class because of the creative aspect of it. “
Ms. Puentes, the current Creative Writing teacher, states, “Contemporary Literature was her brain child, her creation, and it impacted so many students over the years. It is a staple of the English department, and we have her to thank for it. Since this is my first year teaching the course, I am actually excited for everything we are doing this year. I have kept some of the old activities, but I am also adding some new activities to the curriculum.”
Students like various things about the class. Senior Maria Maldonado said, “It’s small, and we are able to connect with one another, which is something you don’t see anywhere else.”
The class is open to all types of students, but the schools tries to keep it open to juniors and seniors due to the mature level of topics covered in class. “However, this year we have some sophomores and freshmen, so it should be interesting listening to the different perspectives shared in class,” stated Ms. Puentes.
Some students have been trying to get into this class since tenth grade. Jamilee Yern, a senior, has been trying for three years. “I’m very passionate about writing, and this class felt like it was for me,” she said. “Unfortunately, I never got the chance because it was always full.”
