A Writing Life (Part 8)

My writing proceeded with speed. I wrote and read poetry and other material at public-speaking events and open-mic nights in cafés and bars. It was always fun to do this, especially without a plan as to what I was about to say. After one of these improvised performances, I was stopped on the university campus the next day by a group of students who wanted to thank me for the show. Another friend, who was helping me edit a campus journal, decided to read one of my poems when I could not attend a reading. I am still touched by this act. I could not imagine having the nerve necessary to read the work of a friend. And I regret that I never got the chance to return the favor.
There were many poems written, performed and put into campus journals. I also wrote occasional articles for the campus newspaper, became Social Co-Ordinator of the Humanities in my senior year, read and studied the masters of English literature and finally felt comfortable with my education. I even wrote two plays and managed to have one of them performed on campus in the student art museum. I had finally found what I was supposed to be doing with myself.
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