While most seniors spend their after-school time on academics, Miriam Fabiano wanted to do something different. Just like that, Fabiano, a high school senior at H. Frank Carey High School, first had the idea during her junior year to spend her free time doing something new and unique at the library, since it didn’t offer programs beyond reading at the time.
Later, she founded a creative writing program at Franklin Square Public Library, inspired by her grandfather’s love of poetry and her passion for English and writing. The program was created to give the library community a writing-focused activity and to allow students to earn one hour of community service per session.
Fabiano said the program features various activities and workshops each day, including sonnet practice, to encourage participation and creative expression.
“So what I was kind of thinking is just I wanted to lead something, and I wanted to lead something of my own kind of, yeah,” Fabiano said. “So I figured writing and library kind of went together, and they didn't really have too many programs like that… So I just figured it would be great to incorporate that into the community and into the library environment.”
The program offers a welcoming environment where students can write and freely engage with their friends. Participation in the program varies: some students attend for community service hours, while many seem engaged and enjoy the sessions. She hopes students will take something away from the program while earning an hour of community service.
After each session, Fabiano takes a survey to gather feedback, which helps her guide future activities.
“Well, I hope that students, the students that come into my sessions,” Fabiano said. “I hope that they're just able to walk away with something new that they like, and you know, just a new passion for writing.”
Fabiano told the Herald that as she applies to college, she plans to study English as an undergraduate before pursuing law and becoming an attorney. As a senior in high school, balancing schoolwork and extracurriculars is difficult, but she said that she coordinates schoolwork and program planning month by month to manage competing responsibilities.
“I can't say that it hasn't been difficult to manage everything. Sometimes, you know, it's easy to fall behind on some things, but I'm glad that I've been able to stay on track of everything. It does get a little difficult to balance everything, but personally, I've reached a point where, especially through managing this club, it's been almost a year now.”
Fabiano said starting this program was a bit easier because she was already frequenting the library for a tutoring program with the National Honor Society at school and was familiar with everyone there.
“I first got to know Miriam when she was a high school junior and came to the library as a National Honor Society tutor,” Daphne Levy, a teen services librarian, said. “She eventually started a Creative Writing Club for our teens, and I really saw how dedicated and enthusiastic she was. So when we had an opening for a page, she was someone I definitely wanted to consider.”
Fabiano hopes to continue this program during or after her undergraduate studies but may be affected by relocation, as she hopes to pursue her undergraduate studies in Boston.
“What I will say for people trying to start things like this is to make sure it's something you're passionate about because it can, well, I'm sure it can get boring if you know you're just doing it to do it,” Fabiano said. “…But I will also say that it's important to manage your time and make sure it's something that.”
