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Walt Whitman, the American poet, essayist and journalist, is one of the most influential poets of all time. Considered as the Father of the free verse, Whitman popularized ‘free verse’, a form of poetry which does not follow any strict set of rules.  

On the occasion of Whitman’s birthday this month, we are thinking a lot about Whitman’s sprawling legacy, and its impact on artists across mediums. Here are some of our favorite works which engage with Whitman’s art:

• Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Breaking Bad is one of the most critically-acclaimed shows of all time. Created and produced by Vince Gilligan; the name of this show’s protagonist, Walter White, is reminiscent of the poet. This fact is used to incorporate Whitman’s works into major moments in the show. Moreover, Walter’s copy of the poet’s classic “Leaves of Grass” becomes a plot point for some of the show’s most pivotal twists. 

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• Crossing (2015)

Based on Whitman’s Memoranda During the War, Crossing is a two-act opera composed by Matthew Aucoin which offers a fictionalized account of Whitman’s time as a nurse during the American Civil War.

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• Dead Poets’ Society (1989)

A timeless classic, Dead Poets’ Society is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Peter Weir. The most iconic scene from the film, in which Robin Williams’ John Keating tells his students about what’s truly important in life, features the classic Whitman poem “O Me! O Life!”

• Poetry in America (S02E08)

Created and directed by Harvard professor Elisa New, Poetry in America “is a public television series and multi-platform educational initiative that brings poetry into classrooms and living rooms around the world.” This episode features Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, playwright Tony Kushner, hip hop artist Nas, composer Matthew Aucoin, poets Joshua Bennett, Marilyn Chin, and many other artists discussing Whitman’s evergreen work.

If you would like to further engage in conversations about Whitman with your contemporary students, check out Poetry in America Intensive, one of a kind poetry classes to learn how Poetry through time converses with other art forms like Hip-hop, Jazz, Basketball, Ballet and much more — and all this from professors of Harvard and Arizona State University! 

Published on May 10, 2022

-Avanti Nayal,
Jamnabai Narsee School

So, how does one become a writer? Well, a single google search is enough to provide you with a plethora of answers to that question – however, rarely do people talk about how one must not become a writer. That is precisely what I want to throw light on through this blog post.

The beginning of the journey

Let me begin by telling you a little about myself – I am an average 18 year old girl who is a hopeless romantic at heart (classic writer vibes, right?). I am loquacious in the presence of those I trust, but I am extremely reserved at social gatherings. I am a glutton who loves devouring pasta almost every week. More importantly, I am a voracious reader who doesn’t think twice before burying her nose in a book even during the exam season. Although I’ve been fond of literature since I was a child, I did not try my hand at writing until a few years ago.

While sitting in my art class on a very fine morning in 2018, my art teacher asked me if I had ever written a poem. It was completely out of the blue, and I was pleasantly surprised (to say the least). I disagreed with her. She went on to say that I had the eyes of a writer- we laughed at it and continued with the task at hand. Later that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about what she had said. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to write my first piece- a short poem on the unpredictable nature of human admiration. This was followed by a piece on first love, and before I knew it, my diary was overflowing with poems that depicted a side of my personality that was shrouded in mystery until that point. My diary had turned into some sort of a haven. I deem myself to be a novice, but I have learnt a thing or two about the nuances of prolific writing.

Enjoy the journey whilst you have your eyes set on the goal

Rarely do I see people talk about the sheer excitement and joy that writers experience almost immediately after they think of an idea that they would want to work on. More often than not, we cannot wait to put our work out there. It is inexplicably difficult to sustain the same level of enthusiasm until the very end. Sometimes, the writing on paper is nothing like we imagine it to be. It takes patience and determination to put into words what our mind conjures up. It could take us anywhere between 30 minutes and an eternity to get done with a piece. The first golden rule of being a writer is simplistic but hard to live by- love the journey more than the destination; adore the process of writing more than the final product. You cannot be a writer by being a person who doesn’t understand the significance of patience. Perhaps, writing teaches us numerous life lessons too. Nothing gives a writer more pleasure than taking a step back and admiring their art, but it takes an unfathomable amount of time to get to that stage. Spoiler alert- it involves a ton of broken pencils, torn papers, incomplete works and of course, a lot of brainstorming. 

The importance of vulnerability

The second golden rule of writing is the appreciation, acceptance and practice of being 

vulnerable. We are accustomed to thinking of our struggles as unique and different from those that our mates experience, but I am here to tell you that the aforementioned notion is absurd and utterly false (I did sound like a professor there, didn’t I?). Our struggles are more alike than we would like to believe, and maybe, that is the crux of expressing yourself through writing – maybe, we all just want to be assured of the fact that we aren’t alone in our ordeal. You cannot become a writer without being vulnerable, introspective and supremely honest. Writing that’s (uncannily) profound usually comes straight from the deepest, most unexplored crevices of the author’s heart. 

We all want to be understood, but rarely do we allow ourselves to show our bare self to the world. Writing gives you a glorious opportunity to do just that. Whether it is the notes that you scribble on your notes app at 3 am or the poems that you publish in a leading magazine, it all requires a great deal of vulnerability. Anne Frank’s diary wouldn’t be half as poignant if she wouldn’t have been completely honest about the most complex of things. Robert Frost’s poetry wouldn’t be half as popular if he hadn’t shared his heartfelt feelings with the world. 

You can be a writer too!

Language is perhaps the greatest invention of mankind. Writers can wreck you and be your saving grace all at once. They can ruin the greatest of people and redeem the worst of men. A dying man’s last words, a person’s first love letter, the texts that a concerned mother sends to her child, they all hold more power than any weapon ever will- a sword can damage your physical body, but a writer can touch all realms of your existence. That is the power of language, and if channelised in the right way, our voice has the power to leave an indelible mark on those who listen. 

There is a poet, an author or maybe even a blogger in all of us. We are a tapestry of emotions, thoughts, perspectives and experiences, and writing is the best possible way to immortalize it (whether it is for yourself or for the world). So, do yourself a favour and head to your favourite nook with a diary and a pen – give yourself the chance to embark on the journey of a lifetime. 

PS- you don’t need to create a masterpiece just yet, just being yourself is enough. Welcome to our world, fellow writer – we will not disappoint you! 

Psst.. want to explore a whole new world of poetry? Must you have heard of “Poetry in America”? The progam offers one of a kind poetry classes you should take pride in attending. Explore today!

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A robotics workshop is an interesting way to enhance a high school student’s knowledge in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It has many benefits that can help students in their future careers. Other than that, robots are so cool! This is probably one of the best parts of joining a robotics workshop.

Benefits of a Robotics Workshop

Attending a robotics workshop has many benefits. It can build life skills and prepare high school students for the future, especially if they are interested in pursuing a career in STEM. Here are a few of the benefits that students can enjoy from joining a robotics workshop.

• Discover New Skills

The foundations of robotics center on STEM knowledge. Many students tend to shy away from learning science or mathematics because these subjects can seem tough and intimidating. But in a robotics workshop, students will have a chance to discover new skills such as coding, programming, and building from scratch. With the proper guidance and hands-on experience that a robotics workshop can offer, students that were once afraid of STEM subjects will find that they can learn these subjects at their own pace.

• Teamwork and Leadership

During a robotics workshop, students learn how to work with others to build the best prototype. Collaborating with teammates and testing their leadership skills are useful in the workshop and later on in life. Whether or not the students will pursue a career in STEM, these skills can help them become better members of society.

• Continued Interest and Curiosity

The best part of a robotics workshop? It can become a life-long hobby or interest that nurtures curiosity about the world.

Building a robot from scratch is a great way to understand how each part contributes to the final product. It is an enjoyable activity that can contribute to a sustained interest in STEM. Through robotics, high school students will get to have fun while applying science and mathematics concepts. This is a huge advantage especially if the student chooses to pursue a career in STEM. Even for students who will go on to pursue a career unrelated to STEM, the foundations of STEM knowledge can also help them tremendously! Aside from gaining technical STEM knowledge, students will learn how to be a leader and work collaboratively with a team – both are important skills in any field.

Parts of a Robotics Workshop

Robotics workshops generally include building, programming, implementation, and task execution. More complex programs can include the conceptualization of a prototype. In these programs, students create the whole idea of the robot and its purpose. A good example of this is building a robot to pick up trash or communicate with humans.

Of course, the parts of the workshop will depend on the curriculum of the school or club that teaches robotics. Here are the basic parts of a robotics workshop.

• Building the Robot

The first part, and for some the most enjoyable, is building the robot! Many robotics programs use Legos to build prototypes. And who doesn’t love Legos, right? At a program like Build Robots That Matter, students are even provided a free and extensive toolkit to construct their robots. Students can have fun with this part because it is up to them how they will design their robot. The designs usually start simple and functional to get the basics down.

• Programming

In robotics, students will learn the basics of coding and programming. The code will serve as the backbone of the robot that will be built. Without the proper code, the robot will not work as intended. Several programming languages can be used for robotics; the most popular languages are C/C++ and Python.

Although programming may seem like a difficult task, there is no reason for students to be afraid! Codes are generally straightforward, and with the right guidance, anyone can create a proper code for the robot to work. This code can be as simple as making the robot’s arms move or moving the robot forward if it has wheels.

• Implementation and Testing

The next part of a robotics workshop is the implementation and testing of the code created. Once a student has the code ready, it should be connected to the motor that runs the robot. The critical part of this step is to ensure that the code is implemented correctly for it to work.

• Executing the Task

When the robot is built, the code is created and connected to the motor, it is time to execute the task! Task execution means running the code to make the robot move. In this part of the workshop, the students will get to observe the work they put in. It is the role of the teacher to guide the student through all the parts of the workshop so they can successfully build and command a robot.

• Problem Solving

What happens when the task is not executed correctly? This is where problem-solving comes in. Aside from building a robot, the teacher must also guide students in learning how to troubleshoot any problems that come along. The error may be in the code or the connection. Teachers must always take an encouraging approach to help build confidence in their students.

Enrolling in a Robotics Workshop

Enrolling in basic robotics classes will allow students to discover new skills and gain more STEM knowledge. Some schools even have robotics teams that join national competitions! Nowadays, there are even robotics online courses that students can join to learn the basics of the subject. Any student is welcome to join a robotics workshop.

Final Word

Robotics is a fun and exciting way to learn a new skill. Students can express their creativity when building robots while also enhancing their STEM knowledge. There are many benefits to joining a robotics workshop, and all students should be given an equal opportunity to try their hand at building their robots.

A popular virtual robotics workshop is our summer workshop, Build Robots That Matter, in collaboration with Maker’s Asylum. Conducted by Boston University graduate Vaibhav Chhabra, the program teaches students to build robots that solve world problems while being aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goal 12. They learn the basics of electronics and robotics, circuits, Arduino programming, and sensor interfacing with Arduino; and work on projects like Circuit prototyping on a breadboard and Intruder Alarm.