Recently, I had the opportunity to attend ASAP!’s Celebration of Young Writers at De Hoek Farm in New Milford, CT.

I was honored that my essay, One Story, Two Generations, Infinite Memories, received a Top Select Honor and was chosen to be read at the event.

My essay tells the story of how Fable Friendships helped me overcome my fear of reading and speaking in front of others. When I first started reading to seniors, I was nervous. Sometimes I made mistakes, spoke too quietly, or got stuck on words. But the seniors were always patient and encouraging.

As the months went by, something unexpected happened. The seniors became more than people I read to. They became my friends.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that listening is just as important as speaking. By listening to the seniors’ stories, memories, and advice, I got to know them better. Those conversations helped me build friendships and grow more confident.

Reading my essay in front of an audience felt very different from the first time I read to seniors. Fable Friendships helped me find my voice, and I am grateful for every senior who listened to me along the way.

At the event, I also received a certificate recognizing the honor. It was exciting to see my work celebrated and to meet other young writers who shared their stories.

While I am proud of the recognition, what means the most to me is that Fable Friendships continues to bring people together through stories, conversation, and friendship.

Thank you to ASAP! for giving young writers a chance to share their voices, and thank you to the seniors at Ridgefield Station for helping me find mine.

The full essay is below.

One Story, Two Generations, Infinite Memories

Even before I started, the “what-ifs” made me shudder like a kid before a dentist appointment. What if the residents disliked my reading? I was only nine years old; so much could go wrong.

But something inside me whispered, “try it.” My sister and I launched an intergenerational volunteer reading program, “Fable Friendships,” in June 2024. At the end of third grade, my reading scores were low. My teacher asked me to read to the class. Standing in front of the room, I stared at the floor, peeling my nails. My words tangled into a knot in my throat, shushing me like a television on mute. To find my voice, my dad suggested reading children’s books at a senior center.

The first few months were rough. I read too fast, or too quietly. One evening, Mr. D started snoring during my reading. Later, he critiqued, “What if somebody gets bored during this?” I started spending hours past my bedtime practicing in front of a mirror to prevent such an embarrassment. Balancing sports, schoolwork, and the program was difficult; there were days I desperately wanted to quit, yet I didn’t.

Now, it is the most anticipated part of my week. I still fumble sometimes, but I have learned to handle it better. Seniors skip “happy hour” to attend our sessions, which makes me feel valued. Being featured in TIME for Kids magazine bolstered my courage. However, my true rewards are the bonds and memories we have crafted.

Each week, I arrive with one story but leave with many. I sat mesmerized as Marion described trick-or-treating at Einstein’s house, and Dick recalled the end of World War II from a ship in Japan. I even heard Naomi’s tales of spending two nights at the White House with Eleanor Roosevelt. Marion explained that she was terrified of meeting Einstein. She once made a mess near his car and, in a panic to hide it, lit a fire that accidentally damaged his vehicle. I am surprised by how all of us are made up of unique stories.

I never knew that persistence would lead to an audience of two strangers expanding into a group of fifteen friends, a small sunroom growing into a theater. Most importantly, I started this to speak better, but listening helped me make friends. Although what-ifs remain, most of the shuddering is gone.

Fable Friendships began with two nervous readers. We are grateful to everyone who has been part of the journey so far.

Fable Friendships began with two nervous readers. We are grateful to everyone who has been part of the journey so far.