Writing to new heights
We all have the one thing we love, that we absolutely can't live without, and for Katie Diehl, it's poetry. 
Writing since the mere age of 6, Diehl grew up making little notebooks to write short stories in. Also illustrating them and even writing "reviews" on the back, you can tell by the enthusiasm in her voice that writing is her passion.
Majoring in psychology and a member of the honors program, this St. Francis junior's most recent accomplishment is being awarded one of the 35 recipients to win a scholarship for the New York State Summer Writers Institute. Diehl will be attending the second session, one-week program at Skidmore College this summer. Writing workshops will ensue, along with group critique sessions, and lectures taught by established poets.
Recommended by English professor, Wendy Galgan, Diehl took her chance to apply by submitting five poems from her personal collection. Open to all undergraduate students, anyone is welcome to apply and pay their way in, but Diehl applied for the scholarship and was one of the lucky awarded out of over 300, going up against Ivy League students as well. Coming from a small college in Downtown Brooklyn, Diehl is sure to bring her eccentric style to Upstate New York with pride.
Before arrival, she must submit more pieces of work, which will be reviewed by other students and when attending the program will be critiqued during the workshops. Diehl explained with great gusto, "I want criticism. I want to know more about my work and how to structure it, and once I know my strengths and weaknesses I can apply that to my writing skills."
Not only will this program help her with writing arrangement, but personally as well. Poetry is most significant to Diehl and disregarding her possible academic or career path, this only adds to her personal goals.
Gaining inspiration from her surroundings, Diehl resides in the perfect place for that. People watching and nature are ways that Diehl gains inspiration for her writing, along with individual experiences. With personal encounters on her mind all the time, writing is a way to express them in a detached way, she can just get it all out.
Admitting that she generally writes better when she is angry, Diehl's ideas are still flowing when upbeat.
"It's cathartic in a way," is how Diehl explained her therapeutic lifestyle.
Having her mother practically push her outside to get away from books while growing up, Diehl knew she had to do something with her love of reading and writing. Still undecided of a potential academic career, she knows she wants to pursue writing no matter what.
When asked if she recites any of her work she laughed, "Oh I can't do that! I read them out loud to myself to check the rhythm but that's the extent of it."
Having her work read over by not only Galgan, but also the board that reviewed her application, Diehl explained with such exhilaration how encouraging it is to have her work validated by others. Poetry is a powerful and personal style, and having few people read her work, Diehl could only feel gratification when others not only enjoyed her work, but it got her a spot at the Writers Institute.
Coming so far to win this great opportunity Diehl is encouraged to only do more. Being a psychology major, but having a tremendous passion in writing, she may be undecided with her career path but Diehl knows she will never stop writing. Then again, why would she? Diehl does not just have an interest in poetry, she is a poet.
Writing since the mere age of 6, Diehl grew up making little notebooks to write short stories in. Also illustrating them and even writing "reviews" on the back, you can tell by the enthusiasm in her voice that writing is her passion.Majoring in psychology and a member of the honors program, this St. Francis junior's most recent accomplishment is being awarded one of the 35 recipients to win a scholarship for the New York State Summer Writers Institute. Diehl will be attending the second session, one-week program at Skidmore College this summer. Writing workshops will ensue, along with group critique sessions, and lectures taught by established poets.
Recommended by English professor, Wendy Galgan, Diehl took her chance to apply by submitting five poems from her personal collection. Open to all undergraduate students, anyone is welcome to apply and pay their way in, but Diehl applied for the scholarship and was one of the lucky awarded out of over 300, going up against Ivy League students as well. Coming from a small college in Downtown Brooklyn, Diehl is sure to bring her eccentric style to Upstate New York with pride.
Before arrival, she must submit more pieces of work, which will be reviewed by other students and when attending the program will be critiqued during the workshops. Diehl explained with great gusto, "I want criticism. I want to know more about my work and how to structure it, and once I know my strengths and weaknesses I can apply that to my writing skills."
Not only will this program help her with writing arrangement, but personally as well. Poetry is most significant to Diehl and disregarding her possible academic or career path, this only adds to her personal goals.
Gaining inspiration from her surroundings, Diehl resides in the perfect place for that. People watching and nature are ways that Diehl gains inspiration for her writing, along with individual experiences. With personal encounters on her mind all the time, writing is a way to express them in a detached way, she can just get it all out.
Admitting that she generally writes better when she is angry, Diehl's ideas are still flowing when upbeat.
"It's cathartic in a way," is how Diehl explained her therapeutic lifestyle.
Having her mother practically push her outside to get away from books while growing up, Diehl knew she had to do something with her love of reading and writing. Still undecided of a potential academic career, she knows she wants to pursue writing no matter what.
When asked if she recites any of her work she laughed, "Oh I can't do that! I read them out loud to myself to check the rhythm but that's the extent of it."
Having her work read over by not only Galgan, but also the board that reviewed her application, Diehl explained with such exhilaration how encouraging it is to have her work validated by others. Poetry is a powerful and personal style, and having few people read her work, Diehl could only feel gratification when others not only enjoyed her work, but it got her a spot at the Writers Institute.
Coming so far to win this great opportunity Diehl is encouraged to only do more. Being a psychology major, but having a tremendous passion in writing, she may be undecided with her career path but Diehl knows she will never stop writing. Then again, why would she? Diehl does not just have an interest in poetry, she is a poet.