Our West Bloomfield High School Literary Garden is TEN YEARS OLD! In honor of our BIG ANNIVERSARY, please enjoy this series of blog posts from our Literary Garden alums, community partners, and friends. -Ms. Tianen
"a family affair" by nickie rockett
“... it helped me learn the value of taking risks and reaching for goals that may seem really difficult or even impossible.”
My name is Nickie Rockett. I am currently in my junior year at Michigan State University. I joined Literary Garden in my junior year of high school after being in Ms. Tianen’s Honors American Literature class. I knew a bit about the club because my older sister, Katie, was a founding member and she had told me about it before, but learning about the specific connections to American Literature through the class really made me want to join.
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| Katie is second from right in the purple shirt! |
7 minutes (still a record!)
When I was in Ms.Tianen’s class in my sophomore year, I did a research project based on Ada Limón, the Poet Laureate of the United States at the time. Because of that project, I eventually suggested reaching out to include Ada Limón to see if she wanted to be included in the garden. When I reached out to her literary representative, I received a response in 7 minutes that included the plant that she wanted to include in the garden: forsythia.
FORSYTHIA
At the cabin in Snug Hollow near McSwain Branch creek, just spring, all the animals are out, and my beloved and I are lying in bed in a soft silence. We are talking about how we carry so many people with us wherever we go, how even simple living, these unearned moments, are a tribute to the dead. We are both expecting to hear an owl as the night deepens. All afternoon, from the porch, we watched an Eastern towhee furiously build her nest in the untamed forsythia with its yellow spilling out into the horizon. I told him that the way I remember the name forsythia is that when my stepmother, Cynthia, was dying, that last week, she said lucidly, but mysteriously, More yellow. And I thought yes, more yellow and nodded because I agreed. Of course, more yellow. And so now in my head, when I see that yellow tangle, I say, For Cynthia, for Cynthia, forsythia, forsythia, more yellow. It is night now. And the owl never comes, only more of night and what repeats in the night.
From: The Hurting Kind
Publisher: Milkweed Editions
Her literary representative directed me to her latest collection at the time, The Hurting Kind, which includes a poem named after that very plant. Having the ability to create a long-lasting physical connection to my coursework that has stayed in the school beyond my time there really means so much to me because it turned my tenth-grade research project into something bigger than itself. This experience was very valuable to me because it helped me learn the value of taking risks and reaching for goals that may seem really difficult or even impossible. When writing my email asking if Ada Limón wanted to be involved, I doubted there would even be a response. This gave me a new willingness to be ambitious that I have carried with me into my college life, which has granted me many wonderful opportunities that I was scared to go for, but tried anyway.
At the end of my junior year, I was elected as the Jr. Literary Garden Chair to be in charge of our other garden at Doherty elementary school, which focused on connecting nature to children’s literature. I am very grateful and proud that I got to participate on the board of the club after only being in it for one year. We made so many fun memories taking care of the garden that year, and even received recognition from Michigan Green Schools for our commitment to maintaining nature within the school.
In addition to wonderful academic opportunities, the Literary Garden Club also fostered many friendships. I convinced several of my friends to join the club with me and we still look back and laugh about our time in the club all of the time. I love hearing updates on what the club continues to do. My little sister, Alyssa, is now president of the club and I am so proud and excited to see what she does in her position and where the club goes in the future. It’s crazy to think about how this club started with my older sister and its continuous impact on all of our high school experiences, but I would not exchange it for anything.
“joy and hope” by jacob jackson
My name is Jacob Jackson and I am currently in my junior year at Grand Valley State University. I discovered the Literary Garden club through my best friend, Nickie, in my senior year at West Bloomfield High School through countless experiences that consisted of enthusiasm and passion. Over time, my interest in this club peaked because I’ve never heard of such an intriguing blend of topics such as literature and nature. I remember joining my first meeting and feeling such a feeling of joy and hope. There was a sense of optimism in the air and a genuine refreshing energy. I felt immediately accepted in a classroom full of different looks, cultures, and energies. The immediate tossing of ideas of which authors to honor in our school's garden was quick and fast paced.
On a whim, an exchange of ideas occurred between Ms. Tianen and I, mentioning both notable authors and public figures, James Patterson and Dolly Parton. A pairing you wouldn’t necessarily expect, but still manage to respect. An idea quickly turned into an ambitious email. With the collaboration of Ms. Tianen, I drafted an email contacting Dolly Parton’s team through Parton’s own library called Imagination Library. We were greatly astonished at the response from Dolly’s team which resulted in Dolly Parton requesting butterfly plants that attract butterflies to the garden. Following through with this request, a vision of having a butterfly waystation in the garden occurred and a generous $500 grant was given. Throughout this process, I felt an out of body experience being a part of something like this. I would’ve never expected me to be involved in something to this magnitude, but also feeling proud and relieved that I was. The following year, I was so proud that I decided to dress up as Dolly Parton for the Homecoming parade representing the Literary Garden Club! Talk about school spirit!“like being a part of the club was something bigger than us”
In my senior year of high school, I took on a more involved role becoming Diversity Chair. My role consisted of promoting diversity, prioritizing shedding light on different perspectives from people of color, and seeking out members from other cultures widely. Along with that, being a part of this club made me realize how important the merging of nature and literature can be. Discovering new authors, poets, and social activists and finding that connection through nature was something very inspiring. Everyone in the club had and still has such a bright and positive spirit that made me feel like being a part of the club was something bigger than us and putting our best foot forward towards something impactful for the environment. Through participating in different community-led events with Literary Garden, it felt natural for me to care about not only the environment around me, but the people I’m surrounded by.
Post Literary Garden, I find myself reflecting on the time that was spent in the club feeling proud of the work we did, but also hoping the years following after me do more and continue to lead community led events, care about the environment, prioritize real thinking, literature, and authentic art across all platforms.
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