Now, think about your favorite book or movie again. The things that make a
good story become a great story are the themes that support the plot. These themes are
the story underneath the story, the "whys" that keep you discussing the story with friends
or thinking about it as you walk home. Themes make us think and give the story
meaning.

Activity One: Early Memories

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."
-Graham Greene

 Recognizing that it is difficult to jump right into the middle of a story, this first
section is designed to give you insight into the earliest chapters of your life.
 Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and think back to the earliest time you can
remember. Think of a particular time or incident and try to remember as much as you
can about it. When its fresh in your mind, start typing. Remember that yourjournal is
your own and you do not have to qualify or justify anything you write. Tell the story
from beginning to end, noting how you felt, who you were with, where you were, and
what happened.
 When you are finished with your story, take a short break.
 Now, add another couple of paragraphs to your work. How did it feel to write this
story? Now that its done, do you feel happy, sad, disappointed, nostalgic or some other
emotion? Would you go back to that time and place if you could? What would you
change about the story if you could?
 For the final step in this section, scroll through what you've written and pick out
all of the adjectives and adverbs. Although you will want to study the entire story, pay
particular attention to the way you describe yourself, the situation, and those around you.
Type these descriptive words or themes into the space at the bottom of the page. When
you read through the list, can you find any themes or repeating patterns? How
representative are these in your life? In other words, is this story isolated or does it seem
to fit a pattern of how you've often felt or been treated in your life?
 These themes are the important foundation for your story. These might be
positive identity themes that you would like fold into your story. On the other hand, they
may be things you consider negative that you would like to "fix" or otherwise address in
your story. For example, if you story captured a theme of feeling like an outsider,
perhaps your new story should include a plot in which you work to find a place where
you feel comfortable and included. Remember, as the author of your story, it is
completely up to you where you want to the plot to take you. DREAM BIG!
 Like other activities in this program, this part is designed to help you carry your
experiences, interactions, relationships, and historical perspective into the next chapter of
your life.

Activity Two: Picking Up the Continuing Storyline

"There are moments of existence when time and space are more profound, and the
awareness of existence is immensely heightened. -Charles Baudelaire

 Like your early recollection story, you have a plethora of personal stories about