13 Comments
User's avatar
Hazel Maclaurin's avatar

This is so beautiful Ingrid. Beautifully written, a beautiful homecoming, with a beautiful sentiment: connection. I loved it.

Expand full comment
Ingrid Fernandez's avatar

Thanks so much for reading Hazel! And yes, connection is so much at the heart of it all!

Expand full comment
Megan Youngmee's avatar

Absolutely love these realizations and truths. keep writing because you are.

Expand full comment
Ingrid Fernandez's avatar

Thanks so much Megan! Yes the writing is definitely helping break down some of these old, unhelpful stories.

Expand full comment
Miranda - Root Stories's avatar

Oh wow. That comment from your teacher was brutal. You’re right—teachers can be painfully careless with their power. I’m so pleased you’ve found your way back to writing, Ingrid. This piece is wonderful.

Expand full comment
Ingrid Fernandez's avatar

Thanks so much Miranda, your kind words mean so much! And yes absolutely, the brutality of that particular comment left a real mark!

Expand full comment
Hazel Maclaurin's avatar

Agreed, that comment was brutal. And also revealed the teacher’s own ambivalence about the ‘heights’ she herself had attained.

Expand full comment
Ingrid Fernandez's avatar

It was *so*brutal! And you’re right, it says so much about her, and I hadn’t thought about the ambivalence piece you mention but it seems so relevant to how she looked at her students. Thanks for your insight!

Expand full comment
Hazel Maclaurin's avatar

you're welcome - that kind of criticism seems highly indicative of a 'blocked artist', as does the assignment about Clueless and Emma.

Expand full comment
Frankie Tortora's avatar

OMG this is great. GREAT! I love all of this.

Expand full comment
Ingrid Fernandez's avatar

Ohaiiii Frankie, so happy to see you here! And thank you for reading, and for your kind words 😘

Expand full comment
Catherine Wilde - SoulCareMom's avatar

So beautifully said. I feel that my pull to put pen to paper is about connection with myself and the world. I felt as if I was there with you as you wrote stories as a child, received feedback from your teacher, and navigated the teenage years. Thank you for taking us on this journey with you 💖

Expand full comment
Ingrid Fernandez's avatar

Thanks so much for reading Catherine, and for your lovely words! Yes there’s so much in that need to put pen to paper for connection, I’m feeling that more and more!

Expand full comment