ORLANDO, Fla. – For many students, writing in school can feel intimidating.
But for a group of young writers in Parramore, it’s becoming something very different.
It’s a chance to speak up.
Inside the nonprofit, Page 15, students are encouraged to approach writing without the pressure that often comes with grades and testing.
“Sometimes at school, writing is something entirely different,” said Julia Young, founder of Page 15. “So it is a little scary, it’s a lot of rules-based, it is often for testing or for grades.”
At Page 15, the goal is to remove those barriers.
“At Page 15, we take writing down, we say no rules, just write,” Young said.
The organization runs creative writing programs for students across Central Florida, giving them space to explore language, poetry and storytelling while building confidence.
“Really opportunities for young people to explore language, explore their creativity through writing and poetry… and really it’s about young people finding their voice,” Young said.
That voice can be especially powerful for students who are still figuring out where they belong.
“Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has something to say,” Young said.
For 11-year-old Queen Denson, a sixth-grader, Page 15 has helped her do something she never thought she could: stand in front of a crowd and share her words.
“It just helped me express my feelings in front of a crowd,” Denson said. “It gives me challenges to accomplish.”
Even so, stepping on stage can still be nerve-racking.
“I feel scared but happy,” she said.
When the nerves kick in, Queen says she remembers something her grandfather always told her.
“Everybody makes mistakes,” she said.
Now, she hopes other young girls who may feel afraid to speak up will find the same courage.
“You don’t have to worry about what everybody got to say about you,” Denson said. “You can just be yourself.”
Young says moments like that are exactly why the program exists.
“I just really love celebrating young people,” she said.
Too often, she says, young people aren’t given the chance to share their thoughts and perspectives.
“I don’t think we often give young people a chance to share their minds,” Young said.
Through programs like Page 15, students in Parramore are learning that their voices matter and deserve to be heard.