For the first time all year the class is quiet, hesitant. The air ebbs with anticipation. Eyes riveted on the speaker. He opens his mouth, the air pulses, and, as he speaks, the spell is broken.

Stories are timeless.  

Storytelling is powerful.

Recently Watertown High School juniors had the opportunity to participate in a story slam. StoriesLive is a program that promotes and teaches the art of performance storytelling to high school students. 

StoriesLive asked 11th-grade students to present a true story centered around one of seven themes: Where I Am From; Learned the Hard Way; The First Time; Lost and Found; Risky Business; Right From Wrong; and Up the Family Tree. These are themes that are generally found on Common App essay questions. 

A number of students embraced the chance. Others challenged it, asking why it was necessary to present personal parts of their lives to an audience.

Students prepared for a week inside and outside of their English classrooms. In class, students were encouraged by volunteers from StoriesLive to share their stories multiple times, beginning with one person, then two, and so on. Preparation also included comprehension on how to employ nonverbal and sensory details. Students were additionally assisted in understanding the beginning, middle, and end of their stories. Worksheets were given to students as guidance in further developing and understanding their stories.  

Eventually each of the students performed their story for their respective classes. The classes then voted on two representatives to perform in front of the entire grade and StoriesLive judges on Friday, Feb. 7. The two winners would earn a chance to represent WHS at the Regional Slam April 27 at Boston Public Library in Copley Square. 

The competition lasted an hour and students listened to each other and appreciated the level of courage required to take the stage.

There were stories of dangerous car rides, childhood corpulence, and infatuation with boy dance crews, all of which elicited peals of laughter. There were also recounts that provoked and challenged the intellection of the audience. Each story was followed with effusive applause and even whistles of appreciation. The winners of the competition were Melanie Kahn and Sedra Katerji.  

StoriesLive opened the door for students to acknowledge that there is an undeniable power in storytelling and that each and every one of us is a storyteller.

(For information on StoriesLive and videos of student performers from across the state, go to http://massmouth.org/501-2/.)

–Feb. 12, 2014–