(upbeat music)
- So, hi, my name is Toyia Tynae Taylor
and I'm the executive director of WeAPP.
We Act, Present, and Perform.
We have a program called Speak With Purpose,
which is in Seattle Public Schools.
We're the only public speaking class
offered for grades fourth through 12th
in many of our schools.
This is my team.
This is Ms. Sophie.
- Hi. - Ms. Krystal.
- Hello
- And this is our bonus video
because this is called free style, free write.
And I love this because it's really just taking words,
pick any word, brainstorm, tease the word out,
think of synonyms, words that go with the words, or not.
Whatever comes to mind when you think of two words,
you write it on, we have it on the whiteboard here,
but you could write it on paper, on your phone,
whatever you're using to express yourself right now.
And then we're just going to freestyle
and make a piece.
And a piece is a poem or a speech or a monologue or a song,
whatever you want it to be.
But that's why I love doing free style, free write
because a lot of times when you are writing
is easy to have blocks.
To have writing blocks,
or, ya know, when your mind is just not there.
And this is such a great way just to allow yourself
to brainstorm the words you wanna use in a writing piece.
All right?
So, we have brainstormed.
We thought about two words
which were, Free and Connection,
especially in the times of right now, where people,
we miss being connected.
And in some ways we feel very, very siloed
or separated from the ones we love
and we wish we could really, truly just be free, right?
So, the first two words that came to mind for us
were Free and Connection.
You find two words now, get a piece of paper
or if you're using your laptop or your phone
and write two words.
The first two words that come to mind for you, right now.
So allow you to get a piece of paper,
whatever we're gonna do a little countdown.
Ten (fingers snapping)
Nine (fingers snapping) go get it.
Eight (fingers snapping).
Seven (fingers snapping) come back.
Six (fingers snapping).
Five (fingers snapping).
Four (fingers snapping).
Three (fingers snapping).
Two (fingers snapping).
One (fingers snapping).
Come back with your pen, your laptop, your phone,
a pen or pencil, something to write with
and put two words down.
All right?
For this segment, we're going to brainstorm
our free style, free and connection.
The words we came up, we put on the board.
For Free, the words were fly.
Brave.
Mind.
Open.
Love.
Home.
Soar, think.
Peace.
Joy.
Happiness.
Thought.
Dream.
Open.
Family, elevate.
Individual.
Drive,
and No Judgment.
Those are the words that came to mind for us for Free.
And Connection was, connect.
Together.
Friendship.
Togetherness.
Disconnect.
Loneliness, silence.
Social media.
Instagram.
TikTok.
Bridge, hands, link.
Community, and Tears.
So right now, I'm gonna take a shot, you guys.
(Sophie and Crystal cheering) (Sophie and Crystal clapping)
Of doing a free style, free write.
Okay?
And there's no wrong or right way of doing it.
Speak from your heart.
So breathe in.
(exhaling loudly)
Breathe out.
Sometimes I wish I could just fly.
I feel like I would be so brave and my mind would be open
if we would just only learn to connect together.
These friendships could wither the storm.
I love my family and when I wanna be free,
I just think about dreaming.
It elevates my mind because all I ever wanted to be was
the individual me, even on Instagram as I TikTok
my dreams away and bridge,
my hands will stay linked together
because I have such a great community
and sometimes I feel the tears roll down my eyes.
But then I remember that there is no judgment
and I realized that if I just think I can be at peace,
I will have joy and happiness.
Those are the thoughts in my silence
that I have even in moments of social media that go bad.
I just want us to know that together means togetherness.
We connect through connections
and that is truly what makes us free.
(Sophie and Crystal clapping) So,
that's a free style, free write.
You could mix these words up any kinda way that you want to.
You can make, just like we did in our free write,
Free and Connection could mean anything that you want
and just allow your words to flow.
For me, that's probably been
some of the most amazing pieces.
And you can do it too.
If you have anything that you wanna share with us,
we're gonna leave our website at the end of the video.
Share your free writes, your songs.
We would love to hear from you.
My name is Toyia Tynae Taylor.
- I'm Ms. Sophie.
- I'm Ms. Krystal.
- And we want you to really, truly remember
to enjoy your life, be true to yourself,
and always speak with purpose.
Till next time.
Free style, free write (chanting).
(vocalizing)
(Sophie laughing)
Maybe, maybe not.
See you guys later.
Bye.
(upbeat music)