Although Creative Writing is a small department in comparison to the other departments at RASOTA, sometimes it can be difficult to get to know your peers that are not in your grade. That is why the buddy collaborations are so fundamental to the tight-knit community that is fostered within Creative Writing. 

Every year before we dive into the semester, there are community weeks in Creative Writing. During community weeks, there are a number of activities and traditions that bring everyone closer together. Community weeks help us get to know the new freshmen, as well as strengthen our existing connections with fellow creative writers. One of my favorite parts of community weeks is getting assigned a buddy. Usually, upperclassmen are assigned lowerclassmen buddies, but occasionally there are trios or buddies of the same grade. Regardless, I have always thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with my buddy and getting to know them on a deeper level. 

Soon after being assigned a buddy, the buddies are required to formulate an idea for a buddy project and execute their idea. The only barrier that comes with this project is that it must include some form of writing. I’ve always loved how broad this prompt is, because it leaves space to be creative and expressive in a variety of mediums. These can include short films, songs, poems, or letters. This is the time to show your buddy how writing is intertwined with your life and hobbies.

For my final buddy project, my buddy and I created a multi-media journal. We wrote poems about fellow creative writers’ favorite songs, SF locations, and movies. This journal was a reflection of our community as a whole, and a great way to get to know my buddy as well as all of our peers. It was an absolute pleasure to get to know my buddy, who is two grades below me, and I’m excited for future generations of CW to experience this too!