Senior Marc Aldrete began writing a novel in eighth grade but gave it up when it turned from a story about a young writer to one filled with ghosts and Hitler. He admits he’s always had a “weird” imagination. But after taking a creative writing course on campus and diving deeper into his Christian faith, he circled back to his love for writing last year. When he is faced with hardship or changes in his life, he turns to the two #2 wooden pencils he keeps with him at all times in his right pant pocket. He hopes his writing will help more people than himself one day.

– Rachel Barber

There’s always something new on my mind. My mother and I, we’ve been thinking of moving to another state. So now states are all over my mind. If we moved, it’d be away from everything. We’d be isolated.

I’m a writer, too. Everything is books and ideas for a book to write. My message is to help people but also to love and try not to judge and hate. Cause sometimes, for some people that is kind of hard to do.

Especially with everything going on in the world, sometimes we have a tendency to want vengeance and I think that in reality, writing and just loving others can try and stop that. It’s up to the readers, if they want to accept the message. But it all depends on the person, I just want to reach inside their heart even if it’s just a small thing. I’d rather a message benefit someone than me just write for fun. I think that we’re called upon to spread the love and be kind but also just, well, love.”