Today, it is easy to find customization in every aspect of an individual's life. Our homes, our cars, our social networking profiles, our phones. Everyone is striving to express themselves in some unique way. This freedom of expression contributes to the overall diversity and abundance of individuality within our society. At times however, the desire to advertise every single whim is overwhelming and in some way the product of a newly materialistic and luxury-obsessed United States. Most of the people who are feeling the heat from the voiced concerns are teens and young adults. When visualizing an average young adult from 2013, most people imagine the following: wearing headphones on their ears, the latest shoes on their feet, and graphic t-shirts, all while they sweep their unconventional haircut away from their eyes to check their news feed on colorfully, decked-out phones. The majority of people would figure that whatever is going on within these young people's minds is pretty superficial. In a generation like this, there are some outliers. At Academic Magnet High School, Mr. Wright, the school's creative writing teacher, challenges his students to express their essence in a memoir using only six words. In a world of excess, he strives through this simple exercise to inspire some deep soul searching. What these young adults come up with is nothing short of genius.  They have compiled their memoirs into the 2013 Six-Word Memoir Film.  Watch it now on youtube at: 

http://youtu.be/fUdoRIfFT9g.

The main concern when creating these memoirs boil down to two main concepts: simplicity and individuality. Students are challenged to express themselves not only on a deeply personal level but to do it with an effortless grace that is all their own. The memoirs are honest and, for many students, some feelings surface that surprise even the closest of peers. The task of conjuring a memoir that is succinct, relatable, unique, and concise is highly difficult. The results, however, are extraordinary.

The creative writing students of Academic Magnet have been recognized locally and nationally for the excellence of their collective group of Six-Word Memoirs. Mr. Wright's students were the winners of the 2013 Charleston City Paper's Best of Charleston Award for "Best Locally Produced Video".  Nationally, Academic Magnet student Elizabeth Mappus had her Six-Word memoir, "I never much liked being corrected", featured on a TED Talk interview with Larry Smith, editor of Smith Magazine and the originator of the Six-Word memoir genre. It is clear that despite such a strenuous task, Magnet students have proven that they can create thought-provoking memoirs of a surprising caliber. Even sophomore Emily Aysse admits, "It was a challenge to think of the correct words to write, and my classmates really surprised me. Who knew teenagers could be so deep?"

Some of the more notable six-word memoirs from this year's film:

"Savoring the pages until my epilogue."

"Poet in mind.  Athlete in body."

"Prolonged days paused by sudden song."

"Every word has a different taste."

"Just as confused without pink bows."

"Devoted disciple of the doodling religion."