Sparking Creativity at the First-Year Firsts 100-Words Flash Writing Contest

Woodbury University’s Tutoring Services closed their inaugural First-Year Firsts 100-Words Flash Writing Contest with two winners, grand prize winner Angelina Hovakimian and second place winner Arian Talavera. The First-Year First 100-Words Flash Writing Contest was created as an opportunity for students to write about a significant “first” experience they had at Woodbury in 100 words. Tutoring Services expressed their gratitude for all students who entered the contest and shared their Woodbury “firsts” and creativity.

Winning Writing Entries

Students wrote about friendship, collaboration, learning experiences, personal growth, and community. The winning entries, decided on by three judges—one Writing Department faculty member and two Woodbury staff not connected with Tutoring Services—most aligned with their goal of highlighting “stories that [students] would take with them long after graduating.”

Angelina Hovakimian

Grand Prize Winner

My first year at Woodbury was all about fashion forecasting, mood boards, and daydreams of becoming the next big name in fashion marketing. I was obsessed, until I realized I was more intrigued by the business behind the brand than the trends themselves. So, I made the switch. It wasn’t just a snap decision; the way I was being taught didn’t click with me, and I craved something different. Jumping from style guides to spreadsheets felt like swapping stilettos for sneakers, risky but oddly liberating. I quickly discovered that growth isn’t always glamorous; sometimes it’s bold, a little messy, and the best look you can pull off is confidently changing your mind.

Arian Talavera

Second Place Winner

my first steps at Woodbury University
it felt like i was watching a car on my left
that keeps its signal on
for way too long
had me wondering if i should linger back,
or accelerate forward.
i inhaled summer break into my lungs,
but my mind was congested
with colleges to consider.
on the campus tour i saw
buildings who unapologetically
wore age on their faces
the books’ perfume hung in the air,
along stained glass windows
enticing me to start a study session
student masterpieces like collisions
i couldn’t keep my eyes off of.
i realized my destination was closer than it appeared
that i’ve already arrived at
where i’m supposed to be.

The Contest’s Inception

“We wanted to hear their positive, enlightening, heartwarming experiences—stories they would take with them long after they graduated. Students wrote about friendship, collaboration, learning experiences, personal growth, and community,” says Laurel DiGangi, Coordinator of Tutoring Services and Director of the Writing Center here at Woodbury University. Laurel also shared that the initial inspiration for the theme and the prompt came from “National March First Day,” which was created by poet and artist Alicea Joy Davis. and is recognized throughout the university community on March 1st. She created the holiday to celebrate family “firsts,” such as being a first-generation college student, first to write a book, or first to start a business.

Tutoring services first applied Alicea’s concept in 2023 when they created a six-foot by six-foot “firsts,” board with a few humorous firsts (first time falling asleep in class), but with the majority of categories encouraging students to pursue positive goals, including first time visiting a professor during office hours, first time visiting the writing center, and first time joining a campus organization. The project was a success enjoyed by students and became a valuable tool to encourage the community to chat with tutors, pick up flyers, and learn more about on-campus academic resources. It was decided to move the project to mid-fall to allow for more incoming freshman students to participate in the tradition, and though this distanced it from March 1st day, “We still acknowledge Alicea Davis’ inspiration,” Laurel expressed.

This year is the third installment of the “firsts” board, and this year Laurel decided that attaching a writing contest would be a great complement to the “event.” The 100-word limitation was an acknowledgment of the students’ workload; knowing that they may not have time to write longer essays, a “flash fiction” contest seemed more appropriate and engaging, with the style of flash creative writing becoming a trend in the literary community.

The Future of the First-Year Firsts Contest

The contest offered more than just prizes; it engaged and inspired the campus community and student body to consider the milestones we reach every day. It provided a platform for reflection on academic and personal growth and a celebration of the individual journey all students take in reaching their goals.

Tutoring Services’ contest for storytelling, self-discovery, and belonging aligns with Woodbury’s mission to create a supportive environment for first-year students. “I definitely plan on running this contest again,” Laurel shared, and we look forward to hearing more beautiful “firsts” from our students.