Mount Pleasant Magazine July/August 2017

feature

Photo by Layne Barron.

BY DENISE K. JAMES

Pruning

Wando’s

Garden of

Ideas

The 2017 Issue of

“The Outlet”

he 2016-17 staff of

The Outlet,

Wando High

School’s annual literary journal, just collectively

learned an important truth: Not every great work

of art is the result of solitude. This year’s issue, a

beautiful, thematic piece filled with passionately-crafted visual

and written artwork, could not have happened without the

team of dedicated students behind it.

Made up of 11 students – the “perfect number” according

to faculty advisor and English teacher Cindy Lawson – the

staff of

The Outlet

brought their individual talents to the table

for this year’s journal. And apart from the seniors who just

bade Wando goodbye, most of them want to work on the

journal again during the upcoming academic year. The class

that puts together the journal is known as Creative Writing

II, and participants range from those emerging from Creative

Writing I (a workshop-style class that is not a prerequisite) to

newcomers within the Wando literary family.

“I’d seen

The Outlet

before, and I thought this would be

interesting,” said Conor Cradock, a member of the design

group, colloquially known as the “A Team.” “I wanted the

opportunity to analyze literature differently.”

“We’re all very different, but we’ve found common ground

with each other,” pointed out Madeleine Darby. “I’ve even

made a best friend here.”

“[This class] has helped me discover my purpose,” added

Kasey Fordyce.

The whole staff for the journal is benevolently led by

editor-in-chief Layne Barron, who chose this year’s theme,

“Into the Rose Garden,” based on “The Four Quartets” by T.S.