Francesca M. Picone FIQWS PortfolioHello reader, I want to introduce you to a quote that has a special place in my heart: “L’arte rinnova i popoli e ne rivela la vita.” This is italian for “art renews the people, and it reveals life.” This quote is inscribed on one of my favorite buildings, Il Teatro Massimo, or the Massimo Theatre, which is in my parents’ home city of Palermo. This quote has been etched into my mind for the absolute longest time– to me it is an inspiration. It makes me remember that my writing– my art– is so much larger than just me. My words on paper will live on even after I die. They are part of my legacy. A part of me. My writing included in this portfolio are the narrative, metaphor, critical lens, and research essays. In my  Outsider Narrative essay, I write in the first person about the bullying I faced as a newcomer in a small private middle school. I struggled while writing this because it was difficult for me to remember the hurt and emotion I felt at the time. I faced more than bullying, I faced discrimination for being who I am. I learned a lot through the experience, being an outsider sometimes comes with realizing that there are other people just like you. I found those people, luckily, and I learned that no matter what challenges we face, giving people the respect that comes with being human can not be sacrificed. We have a duty to humankind. In my Metaphor Essay ,I wrote about my favorite book which was very interesting, as I compared cancer to an Emperor. I think that the assignment, as well as Sontag’s essay made me reconsider using metaphors as a way to connect with patients, as a future physician. “We must remember that metaphors are ultimately left up to the interpretation of the patient—the doctor can never be certain whether they’ve done more harm than good with regard to how the patient perceives their illness and their path to recovery.” This was one of my most profound revelations this year.  For my Critical Lens Essay ,analyzing The Ethics of Living Jim Crow by Richard Wright using the lens of structural violence and the importance of the individual’s voice is the telling of a story was very eye-opening. Although Farmer’s essay was a bit of a harder read, once I grasped the message of the work, that the individual’s experience should never be silenced, I realized how powerful and true it was. Lastly, for my Research Paper, I chose a topic I am very interested and passionate about. I decided to choose medical miracles, as my family and I have had some pretty intense situations where we believe we experienced the grace of God on that family member’s health. I realized through my research that no matter what religion someone is, prayer and belief can still be great outlets of hope, and that the scientific community is slowly coming to agree with that!  The quest narrative is one way of viewing health stories, written about by Arthur Frank. In this narrative, there is a transformative journey that the protagonist undergoes that ultimately, win or lose, builds the character of the protagonist. It’s always a learning experience. This semester, I was able to start viewing each of my classes through this lens. Whether I did very well on an exam, or not as well as I’d hoped, I always took something from the experience that would benefit me in the future. Seeing my transformation from a scared high school graduate to a more bold and open-minded college student has been absolutely sublime. Overall this semester I’ve been able to hone my writing skills and experiment with different styles and themes. I am very grateful for this class that allowed me to expand my literary horizons. The adjacent topic seminar, where we read and discussed diverse stories to gain knew skills such as close reading and active listening, was also very beneficial. I particularly appreciated the Topic Seminar Writing post that we had to write, reflecting on our experiences through the COVID-19 pandemic.  I want to close with my advice for you, reader. I want you to remember always that your art is meaningful. Your art is beautiful. Your art is worth creating. Your art is life. If I could’ve shared something with myself at the beginning of the semester, I would tell her to not worry about being perfect. Writing isn’t about perfection. Writing is supposed to stir up emotion in both you and your readers. If you write how you feel, or if you write what you’re passionate about, if you write with love, your writing will be beautiful. All you need to do is try. And if you try, you will create something worthwhile every singl […] “Francesca M. Picone FIQWS Portfolio”