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Community Corner

Author Joe Meno Visits Oak Forest HS

Oak Forest High School English teacher, Jennifer Schanz, hosted author Joe Meno, who shared how he followed his passion for stories rather than following in his father’s footsteps in the construction business.  Meno is an acclaimed author and professor of creative writing at Columbia College in Chicago.

He told the class that now in his life, many novels and screenplays later, Meno’s father shows great appreciation for his son’s writing talents, as well as his teaching creative writing at Columbia College.  He related that initially, finding your profession and pleasing your family can be a challenge, to which the senior students in Mrs. Shanz’s class could relate.  Meno encouraged students to follow their instincts and trust themselves.  After sharing his experiences growing up in Evergreen Park, Meno read a terrific short story called “Animal Hospital,” about two young children playing a strange game with their father.  The room erupted in laughter numerous times.  After the reading, several students including Dan Hlad and Emily LoRusso, asked questions about writing and specific characters. 

Finally, Mrs. Schanz’s students wrote flash fiction pieces, which are stories of less than 1,000 words, that tell a beginning, middle and end to the story, and Oak Forest High School Seniors Clayton Howell, Lexi Leggs, and Emily Bronner bravely shared their stories.  Meno provided positive feedback and encouraged all of the students to keep writing.  

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